“Did you know that letting your hair blow in the wind is a crime in Iran?” Each holding a sign as an aspiration to cease the oppressions of the compulsory hijab for women, embittered Iran people burst into the streets and commenced to lift their voices to the Iran government. The ongoing protests in Tehran were a backlash to the unjust death of a 22-year-old Iran woman, Mahsa Amini, on September 16. Also referred to as the Mahsa Amini protests, the conflict between the heated voices of the people and the Iran government is expected to continue.
The beginning of anti-hijab protest originated from an accusation that Amini was wearing an improper hijab. While she was traveling to Tehran to visit relatives on September 13, she was spotted by the Guidance Patrol, Islamic police under the Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Caught by the police for not complying with the hijab regulations, she was immediately arrested and punished. Soon after, she passed away in an Iranian hospital. This tragedy provoked the Iran people to stand up against president Ebrahim Raisi’s recent regulations to “clamp down on women’s dress and stipulate harsher punishments for violating the strict code,” as stated by Guardian.
Why Hijab for Iranian Women?
After the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the Khomeini Administration claimed authority in Iran, nearly transforming the country into a theocracy. They pushed forward Islamic Fundamentalism, a reform movement of Muslims that valued the revival of the founding scriptures of Islam. This movement led to a focus on the essence of Islam in terms of society, politics, and economics, which led to establishing the compulsory wearing of the hijab, suppressing sexual minorities, and prohibiting women from watching sports. Although some of the laws have been revised, Iran women are still “treated as second-class citizens in their home”, stated the Atlantic Council, which led to the prolonged protest.
In the case of Iran, sexism within societies is transplanted in society. As a result, anti-feminism rhetoric has dominated the country. For instance, married women cannot even leave the country without their husband’s permission. Due to this, Niloufar Ardalan, the captain of Iran’s female football team, was forbidden to play in an Asian Cup tournament due to her husband’s objection in 2015, as stated by NBC Sports. Moreover, the Iranian ski team had to participate in the Ski Championships, leaving their head coach, Samira Zargari, behind due to her husband’s barring from traveling abroad.
Although some perceive certain aspects of the Islamic religion as the cause of women’s rights deprivation, the religion can act as a guide for Iran to develop Islamic feminism. For instance, the Quran, the central religious text of Islam, states that “only the wives have to enforce hijab,” where hijab is described as a partition or curtain in the literal or metaphorical sense. Professor Kim Hyuk (Persian and Iranian Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies) states that “When religious texts are viewed through a sexist lens, the outcome may lead to overt degradation of a particular gender.”
However, it is notable in the anti-hijab protest that many Iran men are participating in line with Iran women, fighting against the monopolized power of the government. This indicates the severity of the treatment of women in Iran as citizens collectively risk their life on the street against military forces. Professor Kim also stresses the 2022 anti-hijab protest as “enhancing solidarity regardless of gender”, helping to strengthen considerable support to strike against unfair treatment aroused by the government.
Anti-hijab for a Better Future
Anti-hijab movement means much more than just taking off headscarves; the embedded women’s rights are what women strive to change Iran, from scratch. During an interview with Foreign Policy, a member of Iran Human Rights (IHR) states that women’s labor market participation in Iran is estimated to be just 14 percent in 2022. In addition, according to the World Bank, Iran’s rate of female participation in the labor force remains the lowest in the Middle East and North Africa region, where mean rates are the lowest in the world.
To move towards a better future for the next generation, Iran needs to raise international interest and human right sensitivity through social discourse. Thus, the desperate voices of Iran women should be delivered to the rest of the world. As Professor Kim states, “The solidarity among not only women but also international citizens is important. Global citizens should not avoid Iran’s voices, or the government would ignore their protests once more.” Professor Kim suggests recognizing intersectionality and sharing their stories worldwide.
Currently, thousands around the globe in Paris, Toronto, and Los Angeles have gathered to support Iran’s protest. South Korea also supported the protest on October 18, by protesting for women’s rights in front of the Iranian Embassy in Yongsan. In addition, Islam can be used to combat state oppression, rather than being dismissed as being opposed to protecting human rights. The duality of Islam arouses confusion, provoking continuous conflict between the government and the citizens. “The authority and power of Islam are related to the government, and it enables them to equate their statements with religion,” states CNN. Accordingly, religion should not be abused as a means of justifying domestic policies and regulations. Thus, as history indicates, religion should be interpreted separately from political issues, which may take a long while for Iran, based on theocracy.
The death of Mahsa Amini is not a single incident. the world should not forget the people in Iran and their desperate fight for human rights. Regardless of the violent oppressions that the Guidance Patrol and the government are accusing of, the protest is to be continued and the fundamental values that the protest voices should never be put aside and minimized. Based on the intersectionality of citizens, the problem must be dealt with globally with individuals participating in sharing their messages with support and solidarity.
