Activists in Europe mark the anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death in police custody in Iran

In Europe, the anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s tragic death while in police custody in Iran was solemnly observed. Hundreds of individuals congregated in central London on Saturday to commemorate the young 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman who passed away last year under distressing circumstances, leading to widespread protests against Iran’s conservative Islamic theocracy. As they gathered, the crowd passionately chanted, “Women! Life! Freedom!” while clutching portraits of Mahsa Amini. Her untimely demise occurred on September 16, 2022, following her arrest for an alleged violation of Iran’s mandatory headscarf law. Similar demonstrations unfolded in Italy, Germany, and France.

Maryam Namazie, an Iranian human rights activist in the U.K., articulated the significance of the moment: “We’re calling on everyone to remember those killed, but also continue the fight because this fight has to go to the end. Mahsa Jina Amini and the many others cannot have died in vain. We have to have a better society as the result of this huge, Herculean fight.”

However, in Iran, authorities were determined to prevent the anniversary from reigniting the protests that swept the nation the previous year. Amini’s father was detained outside his home when the family indicated their intention to gather at her grave for a traditional commemorative service, as reported by the Kurdish rights group Hengaw. In downtown Tehran, a noticeable heavy security presence was reported, and security forces were visible in western Iran, where the Kurdish minority had staged substantial protests the previous year.

Hengaw also reported a widespread general strike in Kurdish areas on Saturday, with video and photos circulating depicting deserted streets and closed shops. Another group closely monitoring events in Iran, Human Rights Activists in Iran, reported the general strike as well. However, state media did not acknowledge its occurrence.

Amid these events, there were reports of a man in critical condition after being shot by security forces near Saqqez in the Kurdish region. According to the semi-official Fars news agency, he was shot after ignoring orders to stop at a checkpoint, and his condition was described as stable. Videos circulating on social media purportedly showed tear gas being deployed in Mashhad and Karaj, a satellite city of Tehran. The New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran also documented the use of tear gas, though Iranian state media remained silent on these incidents.

Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish-Iranian woman from the western region, tragically passed away three days after her arrest by morality police, allegedly for violating laws mandating women to cover their hair in public. While authorities claimed her death resulted from a heart attack, her supporters contended that she had been subjected to police brutality, leading to her demise. Her untimely death triggered a wave of protests that swept across Iran, rapidly evolving into calls for the overthrow of Iran’s four-decade-old Islamic theocracy.

In response, authorities resorted to a violent crackdown, resulting in over 500 fatalities and the detention of more than 22,000 individuals, as reported by human rights groups. While the protests waned earlier this year, signs of discontent still persist. For several months, women openly defied the headscarf rule in Tehran and other cities, prompting a renewed crackdown during the summer.

Activists worldwide sought to reignite the protests on the anniversary of Amini’s death. In Rome, approximately 100 protesters gathered in front of the Iranian Embassy, rallying under the banner “Women, life, freedom.” They emphasized the importance of global demonstrations and urged states to refrain from entering into political and economic agreements with Iran.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced that a garden in the French capital now bears Amini’s name, honoring her as an Iranian resistance hero and acknowledging her battle, along with that of women fighting for their freedom in Iran and elsewhere. This garden, now named after Amini, is situated in Paris’ 10th district, adjacent to a canal known for popular boat tours.

Iran attributed last year’s protests to foreign powers, including the United States, without providing evidence, and has since downplayed the unrest while taking measures to prevent its resurgence. The protests were partly fueled by the economic hardships Iranians have endured since then-President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal with world powers and imposed severe sanctions on Iran. However, the widespread economic suffering may have also made it challenging to sustain prolonged demonstrations, as many Iranians grapple with financial difficulties.

Notably, President Joe Biden issued a comprehensive statement on Friday, acknowledging the anniversary of Amini’s tragic death, and the United States imposed new sanctions on Iranian officials and entities. U.K. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly also marked the anniversary by implementing new sanctions on Iranian officials.

Soheila Sokhanvari, an Iranian-British artist who witnessed the 1979 revolution in Iran, emphasized the unique aspect of these protests: “But I think what’s really important about this protest is that Iranian men, for the first time in the history of Iran, they’re actually standing with women and they’re supporting the women and they’re showing respect for the women.” She underscored the historical significance of men joining women in the struggle for justice and equality in Iran.

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• Mahsa Amini: Remembering the Woman Who Sparked Protests in Iran
• Iranian Authorities Crack Down on Anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s Death
• Global Activists Rally for Mahsa Amini and Women’s Rights in Iran
• US and UK Impose Sanctions on Iranian Officials on Mahsa Amini Anniversary