Iranian women without hijabs, in defiance of Iran's theocratic regime, dance around a bonfire in Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan province, September 22, 2022. Photo: via twitter @Shayan86
Iran is on fire with rebellion against its widely hated Islamic fundamentalist oppressors. Iranian women are literally burning the scarves (hijabs, the religious code that governs women’s clothing, which Iran focuses on the mandatory head-scarf and “modest dressing” covering arms and legs) the regime has forced them to wear. They are directly challenging—for the first time in such a mass way—a core pillar of this fascist theocracy: its draconian Sharia laws regarding women, in particular its medieval dress codes. And women are playing a central and leading role in this uprising.
The fury of Iranian women—and men—who are standing up defiantly is literally fanning the flames of hope, courage, and determination across Iran and the world, especially among all who want to see an end to religious reaction and the degradation of women.
In the days following the September 16 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iran’s morality police for an “improper hijab,” people in reportedly 140 cities in all 31 provinces in Iran have risen up in a righteous rebellion.
In numerous cities and towns, huge crowds of women and men, young and old, cheer and clap as women and girls joyfully toss their hijabs into flaming bonfires.
A deluge of Instagram and Facebook posts show burning government buildings, police stations, and police cars, some with women standing atop them waving their hijabs while shouting, “We don’t want the Islamic Republic!”
Young women leading protests in Iran September 23 2022. Photo via Twitter @Shayan86
Images of women brazenly cutting off their hair in front of supportive crowds are circulating around the world. Masses of people are seen blocking streets, even whole towns, from access and lining up along roads throwing rocks at military convoys rolling into towns. Women are shown refusing to budge in front of armored vehicles spraying tear gas. There are reports of protesters throwing Molotov cocktails at police in Qom, traditionally a religious and regime stronghold
Protesters block police on Keshavarz Boulevard in central Tehran September 19, 2022. Photo via Twitter @Shayan86
Protesters in the town of Oshnavieh, Kurdistan, Iran, September 24, 2022. Photo: via Twitter @SuarezSindi91
The people have taken over Oshnavieh, a Kurdish city of 40,000 in northwest Iran, and they’re reportedly girding for battle with the regime’s Revolutionary Guard (a branch of Iran’s reactionary armed forces).
Youths can be seen attacking the police and other forces of repression, making thugs turn tail in retreat. The mass anger and fearlessness is palpable. In universities across Iran, students are marching for Mahsa and learning life lessons in the process. There are reports of protests in front of prisons, even of prisoners being freed.
“Freedom, Freedom, Freedom” and “We are all Mahsa! We Are in This Fight Together” are two of the slogans being shouted. Others include “Death to the Oppressor,” “Death to Khamenei” (the supreme leader), “Death to Raisi (the president), “Death to the dictator, be it Shah or Ayatollah,” “We don’t want a king or a supreme leader.”
March outside UN to Free Iran's Political Prisoners and protest hated President Raisi who addressed General Assembly. September 21 2022 Photo: revcom.us
Former political prisoner in Iran for 8 years, Anahita Rahmani, speaks at protest at the UN headquarters to free Iran's Political Prisoners. Photo: revcom.us
Sparks from this uprising have been flying around the world. Protests in solidarity have included women publicly cutting their hair in Chicago, a choir performance in Istanbul (Turkey), and significant demonstrations in New York City, University of California, Berkeley, and Houston—all taking inspiration from the stunning heroism on streets across Iran.
Thousands in Washington, DC march in support of Mahsa Amini, murdered by the morality police in Iran. Photo: @Aletweetsnews/Alejandro Alvarez
Mass protest in support of Iranian people at University of California, Berkeley, Friday night, September 23, 2022.
In Turkey, a woman burns her headscarf, as she joins protesters shouting slogans protesting the death of Iranian Mahsa Amini. Photo: AP
Protesting the murder of Mahsa Amini in front of the Iranian Embassy, Berlin, Germany, September 23. Photo: AP
In Beirut, Lebanon, September 21, Kurdish women activists protest death of Iranian Mahsa Amini. Photo: AP
In Chile, Iranian nationals and local feminists protest against the death of Mahsa Amini, September 23. Photo: AP
But growing tens of thousands are battering a core pillar of the Islamic Republic’s rule—its patriarchal suppression of women—and the regime is hitting back with escalating repression. This includes buckshot and even live fire, reportedly killing dozens and maiming others. The New York Times reports, “In many cities, including Tehran, the capital, security forces responded by opening fire on the crowds. On Boulevard Ferdous and at the Shahrak Ekbatan apartment complex in Tehran, officers fired at windows; in the city of Rasht, they threw tear gas into apartments….”
There have been mass arrests, including of prominent journalists and activists, raids, and more. The regime is impeding internet communication and sent mass text messages to cellphone users warning people against protesting, claiming the protests were being organized by Iran’s foreign enemies. There are reports the military may be called out.
Things are unfolding at a dizzying pace in Iran. In this very rapidly developing and unpredictable situation, it’s urgent that many, many more people in the U.S. and across the world stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in Iran—and vigorously oppose the Islamic Republic’s repression—and any imperialist maneuvering or intervention.
At the same time, the rulers of the U.S. have their own reasons for opposing the Iranian regime, from the standpoint of their desire to subjugate Iran and “secure” the Middle East and Central Asia for the American empire. So people should be on guard against hypocritical statements of “support” from politicians within the U.S., who would like to use the protests for their own ends. This same U.S. ruling class is very willing to support pro-U.S. regimes that also use Islamic fundamentalist misogyny to brutally repress women—such as Saudi Arabia.
Stay tuned to revcom.us and the RNL–Revolution, Nothing Less!–Show for ongoing coverage and analysis.