The "Hijab Suspicious Death" Protest Continues for 13 Days... Will the Conflict Spread to the International Community?

Iran's Overlapping Social Issues... Anti-Government Protests Involving All Walks of Life
Human Rights Groups "At Least 83 Protesters Killed in About 2 Weeks"
International Pressure Grows... Iranian President "No Tolerance for Riots, Will Respond Strongly"

On the 20th (local time), in front of the Iranian Embassy in Berlin, Germany, exiled Iranians from the Iranian opposition group 'National Council of Resistance of Iran' (NCRI), active in the West, held a protest demanding a thorough investigation into the suspicious death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was recently arrested by the police in Iran for not wearing a hijab. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] The protests sparked by the so-called 'hijab suspicious death' have continued for the 13th day. The protests have spread not only throughout Iran but also across the Middle East, Europe, and the United States, yet the Iranian government has labeled the anti-government protests as riots and announced a tough response, raising concerns about potential clashes with the international community.

According to major foreign media on the 29th, protests continued the previous day in several cities across Iran to protest the death of Masa Amini (22). As the protests intensified, fatalities also occurred one after another. The Norway-based human rights organization 'Iran Human Rights (IHR)' reported that at least 83 people participating in the protests over about two weeks have died. Additionally, the U.S. NGO Committee to Protect Journalists announced via Twitter that security forces arrested at least 28 journalists that day.

Earlier, Amini, from the Kurdish village of Saqez in Iran, was detained on the 13th in Tehran, the capital of Iran, by the Islamic morality police enforcing women's dress codes for "improper attire" and died under suspicious circumstances. At the time, Amini was not wearing her hijab properly and was dressed in tight-fitting pants. After being detained, Amini fell into a coma within hours and died three days later.

The anti-government protests began immediately after Amini's funeral on the 17th. Although testimonies emerged one after another that Amini died due to state power, the Iranian police claimed the cause of death was a 'heart attack,' which fueled public anger. Subsequently, young women posted videos on social media (SNS) showing themselves removing, tearing, and burning their hijabs in protest, and the protests spread to over 80 regions across Iran.

The protests that started with Amini's death have evolved into demands for 'freedom,' 'rights,' and 'democratization.' The protests have expanded with participation from all social classes, regions, and ethnic groups. Notably, the protests have lasted for more than 12 days, which is unusual since assemblies and protests are strictly controlled in Iran. The most recent large-scale protests were in 2019, triggered by a rise in gasoline prices, during which the authorities completely shut down the internet for 12 days.

The expansion of protests across Iran appears to be the result of the explosive release of overlapping social issues. Amid widespread resentment toward conservative hardliner President Ebrahim Raisi due to bureaucratic corruption, incompetent COVID-19 response, and economic crisis, dissatisfaction with the long-standing compulsory hijab wearing erupted all at once following Amini's death.

On the 25th (local time), while protests commemorating Mahsa Amini (aged 22), a victim of suspicious death due to not wearing a hijab, were in full swing, thousands showing pro-government sentiment in Tehran, the capital of Iran, held up photos of Iran's first Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (1902?1989) and the current Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (83) in a counter-protest.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The protests seem to be spreading worldwide beyond Iran. Following Iranian women who performed hair-cutting performances at protest sites or online as a sign of protest, women in various countries are also cutting their hair to show solidarity with the hijab protests.

International pressure on the Iranian government is also increasing. U.S. President Joe Biden mentioned in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on the 22nd, "We stand with the brave women of Iran who have taken action to protect basic human rights," and on the 26th (local time), the U.S. Treasury Department placed the morality police on the sanctions list. Additionally, the U.S. expanded the scope of internet services exempted from sanctions to support Iranian protesters.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said to reporters in Ottawa on the same day, "We have witnessed Iran's disregard for human rights multiple times, and now we are witnessing it again with the death of Mahsa Amini and the crackdown on protests," adding, "Today, we announce sanctions against dozens of individuals and entities, including Iran's so-called morality police." Germany also summoned the Iranian ambassador to Berlin on the same day to request a halt to the violent suppression of protesters.

Meanwhile, President Raisi expressed regret over the 'hijab suspicious death' incident in a national address broadcast on state television on the 28th (local time), but clearly stated that anti-government protests cannot be tolerated. He said, "The death of Mahsa Amini saddened us all," and "I was informed of the incident and called the bereaved family to express my condolences." He continued, "Everyone can freely express their opinions, but riots cannot be tolerated," emphasizing, "We will strictly deal with acts that threaten public safety and damage property."