The death of Mahsa Jina Amini at the hands of the Islamic Republic’s “morality police” in September 2022 lit a fuse on a fervent global protest movement. Jina’s crime was wearing an “improper” headscarf in public. The slogan, “Woman, Life, Freedom,” which first emerged in the fight for Kurdish equality, was used by thousands of brave, defiant women in Iran (along with male supporters), who called for an end to oppression, discrimination, tyranny, and dictatorship.
Eighteen months later, the Iranian government has increased video surveillance and morality police patrols, imposed even harsher penalties for female disobedience, and leaned even further into brutal torture methods and daily executions. Meanwhile, Ali Khamenei’s administration floods the population with propaganda and conspiracy theories.
Julian talks to Iranian human rights activist and former BBC World Service reporter, Negin Shiraghaei, about the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, which she says remains active and unstoppable.
Show Notes
Iran one year after Woman, Life, Freedom
Iran: Alarming Surge in Executions
Khamenei Refuses US Help, Citing COVID Conspiracy Theory
Iran’s Supreme Leader Calls Gender Equality a Zionist Plot
Iranian Singer Sentenced to 3 years in Jail for Mahsa Amini Protest Anthem
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices