Why are Iranian girls slicing their hair to protest in opposition to the federal government

Girls in Iran have taken to the streets and are slicing their hair and waving and burning their hijabs (veils) for nearly every week now. These girls have been protesting in opposition to restrictions on private freedoms within the Islamic nation, stringent gown codes for girls and an economic system reeling below sanctions from the western world. Livid crowds additionally referred to as for the autumn of the nation’s supreme chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 

This gown code comes below the Islamic Sharia Regulation, which governs Iran and was imposed after the 1979 revolution.  Below this legislation, girls are mandated to cowl their hair and put on lengthy, loose-fitting garments to cover their figures. Anyone caught violating this legislation faces public shaming, fines and even arrest. 

Up to now, over 41 protestors have died in these protests and round 700 have been arrested as the federal government continues its crackdown on protests. State media has additionally claimed that 12 financial institution branches have been destroyed and 219 ATMs have been broken resulting from these protests. 

Iran has been below fireplace after the demise of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini who was arrested by the nation’s morality police final week. Whereas the police claimed Amini died of a coronary heart assault and was not tortured in custody, her household mentioned she had no coronary heart situations and so they have been stopped from seeing her physique.  

Analysts imagine that the anti-hijab protests and Amini’s demise will embolden girls to problem gown restrictions imposed by the federal government even when the protests fade out. A US-based Iran analyst Omid Memarian instructed information company Reuters, “The demise of Mahsa Amini launched a long time of suppressed vitality and can amongst girls to combat again. It’s not the primary time, however this time is completely different.”

Meir Javedanfar, professor of Iranian politics at Israel’s Reichman College famous that Iranians are protesting in opposition to a “corrupt and incompetent regime.” Javedanfar mentioned, “These protests is not going to be the final. We’ll see extra. However we’re unlikely to see a revolution till and until there’s a chief and at the very least a part of Iran’s armed forces begins siding with the individuals in opposition to the regime. None of this has occurred but.”

The United Nations’ human rights physique mentioned the morality police have resorted to extra violent strategies together with slapping girls protestors, beating them up with batons and shoving them into police automobiles. 

Protestors have gotten assist from Oscar-winning filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, identified for his movie A Separation. Faridi mentioned in an Instagram put up, “I deeply respect their battle for freedom and the best to decide on their very own future regardless of all of the brutality they’re subjected to.”

In a bid to take care of these protests, Iranian authorities has additionally blocked entry to social media platforms like Instagram, Skype, LinkedIn and WhatsApp and likewise imposed restrictions on web entry. 

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