US Time Magazine Selects Iranian Women Leading Anti-Government Protests as 'Heroes of the Year'

Protest Against Hijab Deaths and Oppressive Society... Iran's Longest-Running Demonstration

An Iranian daily newspaper reporting on the suspicious death of a woman who was arrested for not wearing a hijab.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Junran] The American current affairs weekly Time magazine has selected Iranian women who participated in anti-government protests as the 'Heroes of the Year' for 2022. They have been holding large-scale protests for three months, protesting the suspicious death of a female university student who was arrested for not wearing a hijab.

On the 7th (local time), Time explained the reason for the selection, stating, "The aspirations of everyone who wants change in Iran are swirling under the slogan 'Women, Life, Freedom,'" and added, "This is a rebellion of women bearing the diverse hardships of the entire society."

Azadeh Moaveni, a former Time columnist and author, revisited the role of women in the ongoing protests in Iran through a feature article and highlighted the new record of the longest protest in 43 years of Iranian history.

She said, "This movement, led by young women who have taken to the streets, is educated, liberal, secular, and has grown up with higher expectations, desperately wanting to live a normal life," adding, "They want universities, foreign travel, decent jobs, the rule of law, going to the Apple Store, meaningful political roles, and the freedom to say and wear whatever they want." She also noted that, according to government estimates, the average age of arrested protesters is about 15, which is very young.

Moaveni emphasized the significance of the protests, stating, "The rebellion of Iranian girls is resonating not only in Iran but more broadly." She explained, "No government officials in Iran or other countries, who have used hostility toward women as a political brand, understood the power of the girls demanding to be allowed to stand alone on the box in the streets." She interpreted that feminists worldwide, especially in Europe and Latin America, see the outcome of the Iranian protests as a signal for their own struggles.

She also pointed out, "What kind of pain they will endure to see their demands for fundamental change realized will be a problem that Iranians themselves, who will live with the consequences of their actions, must solve."

An anonymous woman appearing from behind in a photo included in the article said, "I am proud of myself and Iranian women who have stood up for their rights more bravely than any man in the world," adding, "I refuse to wear the hijab in public places and at work. I believe that is the best way to gain our rights."

Earlier, in Iran, a female university student Mahsa Amini (22) was detained for violating dress code rules because her hair was visible through her hijab in September. This incident triggered women-centered protests, which expanded into anti-government demonstrations demanding the regime's resignation and have continued for three months.

In response, the Iranian government has mobilized elite forces such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to forcibly suppress the protests. Iranian human rights organizations claim that at least 458 people, including 63 children, have died due to the government's harsh crackdown, while the government has reported that about 200 security personnel have died.