Mahsa Amini: Lawbreaker Or Victim Of Misogyny?

Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman, was arrested by Iran's Guidance Patrol on 13 September 2022 for allegedly violating the country's mandatory hijab law. Eyewitnesses claim that she was severely beaten by the officers and subsequently collapsed. She was hospitalized and died on 16 September 2022. Amini's death sparked widespread protests in Iran and around the world, with demonstrators calling for an end to the compulsory hijab laws and other forms of discrimination and oppression against women in Iran. While the Iranian authorities denied the allegations of police brutality, leaked medical scans and eyewitness accounts suggested that Amini may have suffered a cerebral hemorrhage or stroke due to head injuries sustained during her arrest.

Mahsa Amini's arrest by the Guidance Patrol

On 13 September 2022, Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman, was arrested by the Guidance Patrol, Iran's religious morality police, for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly. She was travelling with her family to visit her brother in Tehran when she was arrested at the entry of the Shahid Haghani Expressway. Amini was then transferred to the custody of Moral Security.

Amini's brother, who was with her when she was arrested, was told she would be taken to the detention centre to undergo a "briefing class" and would be released an hour later. However, Amini was beaten by police shortly after her arrest, while in a police van. After she arrived at the police station, she began to lose vision and fainted. Two hours after her arrest, Amini was taken to Kasra Hospital. It took 30 minutes for the ambulance to arrive, and an hour and a half to get to the hospital.

The official cause of Amini's death was heart failure, but eyewitnesses, including women who were detained with her, reported that she was severely beaten and that she died as a result of police brutality. Bruises on her legs and face also suggested that she had been beaten. The Iranian authorities denied these claims.

The assertions of police brutality, in addition to leaked medical scans, led some observers to believe Amini had a cerebral haemorrhage or stroke due to head injuries received after her arrest. Published hospital pictures show Mahsa Amini bleeding from the ear and with bruises under her eyes. In an 18 September letter, Doctor Hossein Karampour (the top medical official in Hormozgan province) pointed out that such symptoms "do not match the reasons given by some authorities who declared the cause to be a heart attack... (they are instead consistent with) a head injury and the resulting bleeding."

Amini's death sparked major protests, described by CNN as more widespread than the protests in 2009, 2017, and 2019, and by The New York Times as the largest Iranian protests since at least 2009. Some female demonstrators removed their hijab or publicly cut their hair as acts of protest.

The circumstances of her death

Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman, died in a hospital in Tehran, Iran, on 16 September 2022, under suspicious circumstances. The Iranian morality police, known as the Guidance Patrol, had arrested Amini three days earlier for allegedly not wearing the hijab in accordance with government standards.

The Iranian authorities stated that she had suffered a heart attack at a police station, collapsed, and fell into a coma before being transferred to the hospital. However, eyewitnesses, including women who were detained with Amini, reported that she was severely beaten by the police and that she died as a result of police brutality. They said that Amini was pushed into a van and beaten, and then taken to the Vozara detention centre in Tehran. Amini's brother, who was with her when she was arrested, was told that she was being transferred for an "educational" class aimed at "reforming" her behaviour.

Amini's family has described her as a "shy, reserved resident" of her hometown who was never politically active. They have also stated that she had no prior health conditions and was a healthy 22-year-old, contrary to the Iranian government's claims that she had underlying health issues.

Published hospital pictures show Mahsa Amini bleeding from the ear and with bruises under her eyes. In addition, leaked medical scans of her skull revealed bone fractures, haemorrhaging, and brain edema. These findings led some observers to believe that Amini had suffered a cerebral haemorrhage or stroke due to head injuries sustained after her arrest.

The Iranian government denied the allegations of police brutality and forged fake medical records, claiming that Amini had a history of heart disease and had undergone brain surgery as a child. However, Amini's family maintained that she had never had any medical issues and that the Iranian authorities were attempting to cover up the true cause of her death.

Amini's death sparked widespread protests across Iran, with demonstrators demanding an end to the compulsory hijab laws and other forms of discrimination and oppression against women in the country. The protests were met with a violent response from the Iranian government, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of protesters.

The Iranian government's response to the protests

The Iranian government's response to the Mahsa Amini protests has been described as "intense" and "deadly". The government has implemented internet blackouts and restricted access to social media, making it difficult for protesters to communicate and organise effectively. There have also been reports of violent tactics used by security forces, including the use of live ammunition, as well as forced confessions, torture, and sexual violence.

The Iranian government has denied many of the allegations made against it, including the accusation that Mahsa Amini died as a result of police brutality. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed the protests as riots caused by foreign states and dissidents, and the government has attempted to portray the counter-protests as "spontaneous".

The government's response has been widely condemned by international human rights groups, and several countries have imposed sanctions on Iran over human rights violations. In March 2024, the UN accused Iran of committing crimes against humanity during the protests, which the Iranian government rejected.

The global impact of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement

The Woman, Life, Freedom movement, sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, has had a significant global impact. The movement, rooted in Amini's Kurdish background, demands an end to compulsory hijab laws and other forms of discrimination and oppression against women in Iran. Protests have not only spread across Iran but have also gained international support, with rallies taking place in various cities around the world, including Berlin, Washington, Los Angeles, and Toronto. The movement's slogan, "Woman, Life, Freedom," has become a universal rallying cry, transcending cultural and linguistic barriers and resonating with people worldwide.

The movement has been widely recognised and has received awards such as the 2023 Freedom Award by Freedom House and the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. Notable individuals who have expressed solidarity with the movement include Michelle Obama, Malala Yousafzai, Hillary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, and Nadia Murad. The movement has also inspired various forms of artistic expression, including music, films, and social media campaigns. For example, the song "Baraye" by Shervin Hajipour has become an anthem of protest, and the cast of "Girls of the Sun" chanted "Jin, Jiyan, Azadî" at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

The impact of the movement has extended beyond raising awareness and sparking protests. It has also influenced policy and decision-making. For instance, the city of Los Angeles proclaimed September 16 as Mahsa Day and named an intersection as Women, Life, Freedom Square. Additionally, the movement has led to a shift in public opinion, with an increasing number of Iranians opposing mandatory hijab laws and supporting secularism. The movement has also brought attention to the human rights violations perpetrated by Iran's Guidance Patrol and the harsh response of the Iranian government to the protests, including internet shutdowns, arrests, and the use of deadly force.

The Woman, Life, Freedom movement has had a lasting impact on a global scale, sparking conversations about women's rights, freedom, and oppression not only in Iran but worldwide. It has inspired people to take a stand against discrimination and authoritarianism, demanding change and seeking to create a more just and equitable society. The movement's influence continues to be felt, and it has left an indelible mark on the pursuit of equality and justice around the world.

The legacy of Mahsa Amini

Amini's death and the subsequent protests have had a significant impact, both within Iran and internationally. Within Iran, the protests have resulted in a crackdown by the government, with widespread Internet blackouts, restrictions on social media, and the use of tear gas and gunfire. There have also been reports of torture and other human rights violations by security forces. However, the protests have also led to some changes, such as the pardoning of tens of thousands of people who were arrested during the demonstrations.

Internationally, Amini's death has brought attention to the issue of compulsory hijab laws and the treatment of women in Iran. There have been global demonstrations of solidarity, and several countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, and the EU, have imposed sanctions on Iranian officials and entities in response to human rights violations. The United Nations has also played a role, with the UN Human Rights Council concluding in 2024 that Iran was responsible for Amini's death and had attempted to hide the truth.

Amini's legacy is also evident in the ongoing efforts to seek justice and accountability. Amini's family has been active in this pursuit, despite facing threats and intimidation. There have also been calls for an independent international investigation into her death and the related protests. The "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement, which emerged from the protests, continues to demand an end to compulsory hijab laws and other forms of discrimination and oppression against women in Iran.

Overall, the legacy of Mahsa Amini is still unfolding, as the world continues to grapple with the implications of her death and the ongoing struggle for women's rights and freedom in Iran.

Frequently asked questions