Tehran – The anti-government protests led by women in Iran are spreading to more areas. Employees of Asalueh, Iran’s main oil production center, went on strike in support of the protest, which entered its fourth week.
President Ibrahim Raisi held an emergency meeting with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibuf and Chief Justice Ghulam Hussain Mohsini in the situation where the strike did not ease. The government clarified that the measures to ensure national security and law and order were discussed.
After the death of Mahsa Amini (22), a Kurdish woman who was detained for not wearing the hijab properly, on the 16th, various students of all disciplines in the country started a protest by publicly burning the hijab and cutting their hair. The protesters did not back down, quoting forensic reports from the government which stated that Amini’s death was not due to beating but due to pre-existing illnesses.
Even though the internet has been cut off, videos of the protest are being widely circulated on social media.
The protests are strongest in the Kurdish-majority western cities. Police reportedly opened fire on protesters in Sanandaj city on Monday. A prison riot broke out in Rasht city and several people were killed. But it is not clear whether this is related to the agitation.
Britain has imposed travel bans and economic sanctions on Iran’s security chiefs for allegedly oppressing women. The sanctions are against the head of the security forces, Mohammad Roshtami Gachi, and the head of the Tehran Division, Haj Ahmed Mirzai.
At the same time, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Naseer Kanai said that foreigners in Iran should follow Iran’s laws. The announcement comes in the context of the arrest of 9 people from Europe for participating in the agitation.
English Summary: Anti-Hijab Protest intensified in Iran