Protests break across the country for a woman’s death in police custody
The word ‘Hijab’ is an Arabic word that means curtain. With reference to Islam, it literally means head coverings worn by Muslim women.
But the meaning of the Hijab in the Quran is much deeper. Quran refers to the hijab as an act of faith in God. It includes the Hijab of body, sight, thought, intention, and conduct.
Iran is witnessing women across the country burning their hijab and cutting their hair short in protest against Mahsa Amini’s death.
Mahsa Amini was a 22-year-old Iranian woman who belonged to Kurdistan. She was traveling from Saqez, Kurdistan to Tehran, the capital city of Iran with her brother to pay a visit to her family.
The story behind Anti-Hijab Protest
Mahsa was in a car when she was detained by the Gasht-e Ershad or “Guidance Patrol“.
Gasht-e Ershad also known as the morality police in Iran is assigned to implement laws regarding the country’s dress code, concerning Hijab. They arrest anyone who violates countries dress code.
Iran morality police detained Mahsa Amini in Tehran on charges of not wearing her hijab properly which is a crime under the Iranian Law of order.
Hours after she was taken to the detention center, Amini was rushed to the hospital in questionable where she slipped into a coma. A few days following her detention, she was declared dead.
Mesa Amini’s family reiterated that she was brutally beaten and tortured in police custody but the police department has denied any such allegations issuing a video claiming Mehsa’s death as a result of a heart attack. There have been no remarks made by Mehsa Amini’s family on the video yet.
This fueled protest across Iran many women removed their hijab and cut their hair short questioning the workings of the morality police. Women were also seen shouting “death to the dictator” – a chant often used in reference to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
What angered the crowd, even more, was the police not taking responsibility of this highly controversial incident. It is reported that several people have been killed by the security forces in relation to the increasing protests.
