One Struggle, A Million Voices Affected

Women around the world have had to repeatedly subject themselves to torturous methods to voice their opinions and fight for their rights. One such incident that has sparked yet another series of rigid protests by the women was the death of an Iranian woman known as Mahsa Amini, who died a week after being arrested for wearing ‘unsuitable attire.’ The Iranian police denied allegations of brutally beating up Amini in the police man during her arrest, claiming that she died of a heart attack, while a photo uploaded online showcases the girl lying comatose in a hospital. The protests included women burning their hijabs and cutting their hair short, standing on top of burning police cars, while the social media is buzzing with anger over the unfair justice provided to the victim’s family, with hashtags circling the internet such as ‘No to the Islamic Republic’ and ‘My Iran’.

This is not the first time women in Iran have had to fight for their justice against the ill treatment they have been subjected to under the strict policies against women that Iran has introduced over the years. In 2019 an Iranian woman named Sahar Khodayari dressed up as a man to sneak into a stadium and watch a men's soccer match. When the 29-year-old was arrested by police and learned she could spend six months in jail, Khodayari set herself on fire in protest and died.

The integrity of these incidents forced U.S envoy for Iran, Robert Malley, to call Iran out on increasing their protection for women, but is just pointing out the flaws of the country and suggesting a solution enough to stop these disasters from continuing to exist? I strongly believe that a stricter course of action should be enforced upon to bring justice to not just Amini, but the many other women who have continued to suffer in silence against the rules set by the Iranian government.

Why are women objectified with their outfit choices when society itself has supposedly established a safe community for them to dress as per their free will? Why then, are there so many rules laid as to the way a woman should dress, and severe punishment is given to the slightest of malfunctions committed?

When the world itself continues to whip up issues repeatedly that are only forcing women to unite as one to fight for their place, then the world should not be complaining of the rising problems that are being faced by their own citizens of today.

By Tarini Dayal