Why Iran protests are about more than just headscarves

Thousands are out in the streets in Iran's biggest protest since 2009. While the immediate trigger is a 22-year-old woman's death in the morality police's custody, discontentment among Iranians has been brewing for years over the weakening economy, rising costs and the government's heavy-handed response to past protests. A look at why this protest is different and how it might end

- Anjishnu Das & Kenneth Mohanty

A FEW WISPS OF HAIR

The morality police arrested Mahsa Amini, who also went by the name Jina, on September 13 for a violation of Iran’s strict hijab laws. Some hair was visible under her headscarf. Three days later she died in hospital, allegedly from being beaten in custody.

Amini’s death sparked the largest antigovernment protests in more than a decade that have spread to almost 80 cities, leaving more than 40 dead. Security forces are firing live ammunition at protesters, activists and journalists are being arrested, and the internet has been severely curtailed while the state media blames demonstrators for the violence.

But the protesters are undeterred. Many women have removed and burnt their headscarves in public. In the capital city of Tehran, where the government has cut power supply, protests have continued in smaller pockets across wealthy and workingclass neighbourhoods. In Qum, which is the seat of power for Shia leaders, protesters raised slogans calling for the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

 

DEMAND FOR RIGHTS, ECONOMIC INSTABILITY DRIVING THE PROTESTS