<
https://theconversation.com/iran-hijab-protests-challenge-legitimacy-of-islamic-republic-191958>
"Three weeks after the violent death of 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa
Amini at the hands of Iran’s morality police for the crime of wearing her hijab
improperly, protests continue to rage across the country. These demonstrations
defy both repression by security forces in the streets of major cities and
restrictions on the internet. They challenge the legitimacy of a hardline
regime whose authority appears to be eroding by the day.
Activists inside Iran and analysts outside it assess that these protests could
be the most serious challenge to the regime since millions took to the streets
after the disputed 2009 presidential election.
There have been recurrent nationwide demonstrations since then. In December
2017, ten days of rallies were spurred by economic conditions as well as the
compulsory hijab law. In November 2019, up to 1,500 people were killed during
four days of protests sparked by a sudden rise in petrol prices. At the local
level, there are demonstrations over pay and working conditions, the
environmental situation, and detentions.
In these cases, though, the mass rallies have ebbed after a few days. Following
their shows of anger and demands for rights, Iranians apparently returned to
resignation over their economic hardship and lack of political agency and
social freedoms.
In contrast, the current protests have not receded so far, despite the regime’s
use of force and attempts to shut down communications.
This is not this just a display of resistance from one group, or a movement led
by men. Women, some of them taking off or not wearing the hijab, have been
prominent and there have been large gatherings at universities and schools.
The regime has not been able to close down the movement with a staged
counter-protest, as it did with mass rallies in December 2009. A
government-organised demonstration after Friday prayers on September 23 brought
out only tens of thousands, far from the “millions” proclaimed by the state
media.
As always with mass protests, Iranian authorities have tried to portray the
rallies as plots orchestrated by the US, Israel, Saudi Arabia, “mercenaries”
and “terrorists”. But so far, no attempt to tear down the protests has gained
the upper hand. The vast majority of demonstrations have been non-violent and
the expression of Iranians, rather than the work of devious foreign elements."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
