Unarmed protestors continue to be attacked in Iran, fueled by young women who challenge the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Among them and on our screens around the world, a new banner in the struggle for democracy in Iran has been raised along with the rallying cry: “Women, Life, Freedom.” These words signify all that the Islamic Republic denies and fears: respect for women, the sanctity of life over martyrdom, and the right to personal and civil freedoms. It would be a good idea to pay attention to the movements that are beginning to build a sense of hope.
My family and friends in Iran have been able to reach me from my home in the U.S. via social media these past weeks. Ironically, there have been times when we have more information here about what is happening there than they do, because of the government’s sweeping internet blackouts. After the uprising in Iran, hundreds of thousands have posted to the internet. Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish Iranian woman, died in custody at the hands of the Islamic Republic’s morality police. The steady stream of young women who followed suit and burned their scarves in protest was documented on #MahsaAmini (one among dozens of hashtags), and men and more women joined them for weeks.
Free internet access and open lines of communication have been essential to the movement’s success, and remain so especially for the safety of the protesters. It’s unclear whether the Biden administration’s easing of sanctions to allow Elon Musk’s Starlink service — a satellite internet network operated by SpaceX — to operate in Iran will make a real difference. (The international community must insist that Iran’s government cease interfering in internet access.
I noticed a shift in the protests that women are leading by social media as I watched them unfold. We have seen women in the past go out without scarves, often being attacked, arrested, or ended up in prison for defying authorities. I also thought back to 1979, when I joined thousands of women in Tehran on a chilly day in March celebrating International Women’s Day and protesting new mandatory veiling requirements. Remembering how terrified we were of club-wielding, black-shirted men supporting the government that came after us, I was in awe of these young women today — demanding justice for Mahsa and continuing the struggle that began 43 years ago. Many of them were not born in 1979. I am overwhelmed by their increasing numbers and the many men who are supporting them.
On September 21 of this year, hundreds gathered in front of the UN to protest Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s address to the General Assembly. It was a reunion of sorts for old-timers from anti-imperialist, antiShah student movements of the 1970s as well as protests against the Islamic Republic during the dark post-revolutionary era. I met an old friend at Costco who told me she had just seen the Iranian delegation, filling up on everything from diapers to TVs. The video of their purchases was captured next day as they were loaded onto a truck and driven to the airport. This is yet another example of the privileges government employees enjoy in a time when Iran cannot afford televisions and fruit. These stories reminded me of the extravagances of the Shah’s family.
Today, the protest has a very different energy than in previous demonstrations: defiant, colorful, hopeful and loud — much like protests going on in Iran. One can see the old right and left groups in New York, as well as some mujahedin and monarchists with close ties the U.S. government. The current women’s movement inside Iran, however, has yet to align itself with any party or political alternative. Although outside forces may have hoped to influence the movement they have not been able to prove their influence. claimsDespite claims by the Iranian government to contrary. What the new movement lacks — a single charismatic leader, central organization and a set ideology — may also work to insure its continued independence.
I find myself again glued to social media, anxious for the future. Iran’s “supreme leader” Ali Khamenei and President Raisi threatened early on to put a “decisive” end to the uprising, but protests have continued. (Keep in mind that President Raisi was one of the “hanging judges” that sent political prisoners to their deaths1988. The government disputes its responsibility for many of the deaths, including that of Nika ShakaramiA 17-year-old girl who told a friend she was being chased down by security forces disappeared during the protests.
The Iranian leadership is pushing back and trying to empty the streets and force women into covering their hair in public. They are also detaining journalists and human right activists and openly threatening artists, public figures, and others who speak out. Confirmations of arrests and detentions are difficult especially given the government’s efforts to close off communications to the outside world. There are reports that at least one person has been arrested. 1,200 arrestedHowever, this number seems to be far too low considering the extent and length of the protests. Most concerning is the presence of security forces. mobilizing the Iranian leadership’s hardline supporters to come to the streets.
We know that this is just the beginning. To prevent more bloodshed, we must keep the spotlight focused on the uprising and the attempts to crush them. What can we do more?
U.S. policymakers, Republican and Democratic, support new sanctionsIran. History has shown that sanctions are not nonviolent for the most vulnerable people in countries they target. The Iranian government has used the sanctions to cover up widespread corruption and poor management. unprecedented looting of the country’s riches by clerics and the Revolutionary Guards. The sanctions have been costly for ordinary people, especially during the pandemic. It is important to oppose sanctions and defend the recent democracy movement.
The Iranian government has not shown any restraint in trying stop the uprising. To counter this, there must be no excuse for inaction by those who stand for women’s rights and human rights in the U.S. and around the world. Feminists shouldn’t abandon young women who are determined to resist being told what to wear or take control of their lives in Iran and elsewhere in the globe. That is what solidarity — feminist solidarity — is all about. Keep the news about the struggle in Iran fresh. Make it a priority. Raise your voice in support of women’s rights and against U.S. sanctions.
