With The Times

The floor crumbled under her as she took her last shallow breaths, shuttering and gasping for air. As the officer’s boots clashed with her skin, something became clear — due to power dynamics, her life’s value depended heavily on social change.

Currently, Iranians across the world are witnessing the oppressive policy enforcement of Iran. Specifically, the strict regulations placed on hijabs and their significance to women. Instead of enforcing hijab laws peacefully, many men in power have turned to violent tactics.

On Sept 16, Mahsa Amini, 22 years old, was detained and held by law enforcement for incorrectly wearing her hijab. Allegedly, authority officials say she died in police custody due to heart failure—but it is clear to Iranian citizens that this is false.

Reports say that she was brutally beaten to death, allegedly by her doctors, law enforcement and other men involved. After her parents could not see her body, the story of her cause of death kept changing to the point that the people became reasonably suspicious.

With about half of Iranian domestic citizens being women, equating to about 42.12 million, it seems almost trivial that the government places such strict requirements on hijab wearing. This oppressive mindset over women has evolved through generations starting from years ago and women have accepted this maltreatment, until now.

Protests have occurred around the world to demand justice for Iranian women enduring this oppressive state. Women have become more outspoken about this violence, with images of women without hijabs used as a symbol of their struggle currently circling the internet.

Currently, many people have undergone peaceful protests to ensure their freedom and safety, especially in Boston. According to Tufts Daily, many people gathered around shortly after Amini’s death to protest Iran’s dress code violation penalties in Boston Common.

In Iran, women are not free to dress in clothing they choose due to such laws, even when weather conditions make obeying these laws difficult. Nazanin Bani Amerian, a professor at Northeastern University and former Iranian resident, speaks to the oppression against women that has existed since her childhood.

“This is happening everyday in Iran, women are being beaten by the morality police. They killed her, and this time people just had it,” Bani Amerian said.

Bani Amerian continued by explaining the difficulties of wearing hijabs in extremely hot summers, especially since women are expected to wear hijabs starting at seven or nine-years-old. “Even if you don’t practice that kind of religion, you don’t have freedom to choose,” Bani Amerian said.

As the laws have not progressively changed, Iranian citizens have begun protesting against these unjustifiably sexist laws which infringe upon freedom and individual liberties. Currently, Iran holds many policies that constrain a woman’s rights as an individual independent from men.

These oppressive, sexist policies started when the revolution began in 1979, meant to constrict a woman’s right to her body. From the perspective of Iranian residents, the repressive system has existed in this sovereignty for many years caused by implicit bias from the government.

In Iran’s current state, many refuse to continue without social change. Currently, people are storming the streets shouting“death to the dictator” burning hijabs and women making their rights known. During Anti-Hijab protests, this has become the slogan many use to unite against the dictatorship.

“This all started with killing an innocent, young girl just because she wasn’t wearing exactly what the regime wants. She died, and now it’s more than that,” Bani Amerian said. As people continue to protest, the issue will persist until developmental change is made.

Many describe the strict mandate as a “political weapon” used by the oppressive government. Contrary to government policy, some people suggest that women should be allowed to wear whatever they choose — even when their lives are at stake.