Protests in Iran after woman was killed for not wearing the hijab properly

What’s happening in Iran?

Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old who went to visit her family in Tehran was caught by the morality police for not wearing the hijab appropriately.

It was reported that she was beaten by the members of the morality police and even suffered a stroke while in custody. She went into a coma for three days and died in the hospital on September 16 from a cardiac arrest due to brain death. The police said she died of pre-existing conditions.

Reactions to the death of Mahsa Amini

Many Iranian women and some men have taken to the streets to protest the oppressive nature of the Iranian government. Protest that started in Amini’s hometown of Saqqez has spread to Iran’s 31 provinces.

Women are cutting their hair, and burning their hijabs with chants against the government like, ‘Death to the dictator’ ‘Women, life and freedom’

Massive civil unrest in Iran [NYTimes] Pulse Nigeria

These protests have not been peaceful. The authorities are clamping down on protesters stating that their protests are not disruptive and violent and they are ‘terrorists’

The Iranian government has imposed internet restrictions on social media, and many access the internet by VPN. They also arrested some activists including Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani, the daughter of a former president of Iran.

Although the official death toll stands at 41, including children, the actual figure is believed to be much higher.