As we approach the one-year anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini, Iranian authorities have escalated their presence in cities nationwide. The measure took place this Friday, with the expectation of protests taking place on Saturday. Amini, a 22-year-old woman, tragically passed away while in custody after being arrested by Iranian morality police for perceived “improper” hijab attire. Detained due to a breach of national dress codes, her death led to an outcry across the country, spurring nation-wide demonstrations and criticism of the morality dress codes imposed by the state. In response to these demonstrations, authorities enacted a severe crackdown [JURIST].
In the wake of the expected protests, human rights groups and individuals took a stand on social media Friday to draw international attention to the plight of the Iranian protestors. Locals have been sharing videos seemingly showing a military tank approaching a village, believed to have been deployed to quell protests in Amini’s home town of Saqez, in the Kurdistan region of Iran. Other videos showing protests in Zahedan were made public, with clear messages such as, “Attack on Kurdistan is an attack on Baluchistan”. For many outside of Tehran, Amini’s death illustrates not only an infringement on women’s freedom but is also representative of the bias against ethnic minorities by the state [X.com].
According to the Hengaw Organization of Human Rights, multiple platoons armed with heavy military equipment have been moved into Amini’s hometown of Saqez. Hengaw reports that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard enforced checkpoints throughout the city earlier this week, and military tanks have been reportedly stationed near Aychi Cemetery, where Amini is laid to rest.
Since the death of Amini, Iranian authorities have taken a hardline stance against protestors. This approach culminated in August when authorities reportedly arrested at least a dozen activists in the lead-up to the one-year anniversary of Amini’s death. Following the nationwide protests, a joint report from Iran Human Rights (IHR) and Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM) disclosed the execution of more than 500 people in Iran in 2022, with tens of thousands more taken into custody. If the families of slain protestors attempted to engage in legal action against the government, they faced intimidation and mistreatment by the state [JURIST].