On Sep.16, it will be the second anniversary of the killing of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in police custody in Iran. She was arrested for not wearing her hijab ‘properly.’ Her death led to protests that escalated into widespread civil unrest. The bravery of Iranian youth standing up against security forces gained unprecedented international support.
Government forces arrested over 15,000 people and killed hundreds, including more than 60 children. The regime subjected them to enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, torture, and unfair trials.
Two years later, the fundamental causes of the civil unrest, namely, lack of justice, freedom, and economic sustenance, remain unresolved. Divisions within the ranks of security forces and the religious and political establishment of the state are growing. Iranians use every opportunity, including at the ballot box, on the streets, and in legal actions, to challenge the outdated system of the Islamic Republic.
Women are openly defying the mandatory hijab laws and the regime’s enforcement patrols. Families of those who were either killed or are still detained continue to seek justice through protests and civil litigations. Civil protests by workers occur daily across the country.
Despite increasing repression, the pulse of this national movement against the regime remains resolute and active.
