Four years following the tragic death of Mahsa Amini, who was killed by the Islamic Republic, survivors of the protests that erupted in 2022 shared their harrowing experiences with journalists. These accounts highlight the lasting impact of Amini’s memory and how the events during that turmoil transformed their lives.
Mahsa Amini’s Arrest and Death
Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman from Sanandaj, was apprehended on September 13, 2022, by the morality police in Tehran for allegedly not wearing her hijab correctly. Shortly after her arrest, she fell into a coma at the Vozara Detention Center, dying three days later, on September 16. While Iran’s Police Information Center attributed her death to a heart attack, subsequent investigations by the UN suggested otherwise. Evidence of trauma and severe physical abuse leading to her death was documented, indicating a pattern of violence inflicted by the morality police.
The Outcry and Protests Sparked by Amini’s Death
Amini’s death ignited intense public outrage, leading to widespread protests across 134 cities and towns as well as 132 universities in 26 of Iran’s 31 provinces. The Iranian regime’s response was brutal; security forces resorted to live ammunition against demonstrators, resulting in the deaths of at least 49 women and 68 children, according to UN reports. The repressive measures intensified, with the regime’s security forces confirmed to have killed at least 551 individuals during the protests that followed Amini’s tragic death.
Yasser Fattahi shared the story of his father, Jowhar Fattahi, who was among those killed by the Iranian security forces. On November 21, 2022, after two relatives had been shot by authorities, Jowhar decided to join a protest in their hometown of Javanrud. Along with other community members, he stayed up all night to guard the bodies of the deceased, ensuring the regime could not seize them. The protest saw an unprecedented turnout of about 30,000 people, all united in mourning.
A Father’s Sacrifice and Legacy
Despite lacking formal higher education, Jowhar was known for his principled nature and compassion. His son recounted that he often expressed the importance of not oppressing others and highlighted the injustices faced by the Kurdish people under the Iranian government. While Yasser worked as a nurse tending to the injured demonstrators, Jowhar was shot by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps while attempting to aid a wounded woman. The tensions surrounding healthcare access became evident, as many injured individuals hesitated to seek medical treatment out of fear of being arrested or killed.
Tragically, Jowhar succumbed to his injuries after losing consciousness, and his friends smuggled his body out of the hospital for a discreet burial, far from the main cemetery to prevent the regime’s interference. Unfortunately, the violence didn’t end with his death; tens of thousands more have lost their lives since then as the Islamic Republic continues its oppressive tactics.
‘Woman, Life, Freedom’: A Call for Change
Despite the extensive loss of life, Amini’s name has become synonymous with the fight for freedom and change in Iran. The slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom” encapsulates a growing movement aiming to address the systemic issues that women face under the oppressive Iranian regime. Yasser Fattahi emphasized that this slogan represents complex demands beyond the simple issues of hijab; it calls for a fundamental shift in how women are treated and perceived in Iranian society.
Asserting that true freedom extends beyond mere choice over one’s clothing, he stressed the importance of women’s rights in fostering a society that values freedom for all. “Without their freedom, we cannot expect free human beings to exist,” he stated. The movement has empowered women living under oppressive conditions to reject a system that has historically treated them as unequal and inferior. The sacrifices made by individuals like Mahsa Amini and Jowhar Fattahi serve as poignant reminders of the struggle for justice and human rights within Iran’s authoritarian framework.