Women’s rights in Iran hit rock bottom through the murder of Masha Amini

The current conflict in Iran and its devastating effect on women in particular should be at the forefront of everyone’s current political knowledge. The already extreme tensions were reignited by the murder of Masha Amini while in the hands of Iran’s Morality Police in August 2022. It is evident that the current laws and guidelines within Iran based on the beliefs of the Islamic Republic allow immense persecution and discrimination against women, hence leading to many protests of those angry and failed by their government.

Essentially, women have been pushing against persecutory laws and a sexist government by challenging enforced dress codes and sexual harassment. Masha Amini died while in custody 3 days after she had been arrested, with Iranian officials denying reports that she was beaten, sparking protests and uproar. In addition to thousands of women banding together to protest, many have also removed their hijabs and cut their hair, defying the wishes and expectations of Iran’s Morality Police. Although under the Iranian constitution there is equal protection of men and women, by girls being able to attend university and have an education for example, in reality women remain subject to discrimination. This includes family law where wives must seek the permission of their husbands to seek employment or obtain a passport. Since the Iranian revolution of 1979, wearing a hijab became obligatory in public places, drawing major attention to women removing them as a form of protest in the modern day. However, President Raisi introduced further restrictions in August 2022.

Protests first broke out in the Iranian Kurdish town of Saqez mid-September, where Masha Amini was buried, leading to a spread of protests across all of Iran’s 31 provinces. The government’s response was to introduce restrictions on the internet and communications, to limit world knowledge on the horrors currently occurring, and further the difficulty of accessing the full extent of these protests. A range of women have been involved from differing minority ethnic groups such as the Kurds, and university students. The United Nations condemned the “apparent unnecessary and disproportionate use of force” against protestors by Iranian security forces, due to the uncertain but concerning number of fatalities and arrests made. Norway-based Iran Human

Rights stated that at least 154 people had been killed by 4th October, with officials confirming at least 1200 arrests, many being teenagers.

Although Iran’s government pledges to investigate Amini’s death, there is arguably still a lack of responsibility being taken by Iran, blaming the agitation on foreign influence, including the US, EU and Israel. Furthermore, her death may not even be justifiably investigated, as the police stated Amini died of natural causes instead of brutality. Kurdish groups in Iraq’s Kurdistan region were also accused of influence, with Iran launching drone and artillery attacks in late September.

The UN Office for Human Rights called for an independent investigation in September saying that laws regulating what women wear should be repealed; while the UK Government summoned Iranian diplomatic officials, calling on security forces to refrain from violence. Iran remains one of the UK’s human rights priority countries, with the government raising wider concerns for the country’s use of the death penalty as well as restrictions on freedom of expression, belief, and assembly. Some Iranian officials have therefore been sanctioned by the UK in response to human rights violations,. Regarding the US, they too had extensive sanctions in place against Iran, with President Biden stating he would impose ‘further costs’ on those suppressing the protests. Although arguably there has been little progression and women may be in a worse position currently by fighting for the protection of their rights, there have been hints at some change in the policy on enforcement of the hijab. Even some in the Iranian Parliament have suggested police reforms, with President Raisi implying possible change by stating “values cannot change but methods can”.