The front pages of Iranian newspapers after the death of Mahsa Amini. Photo: Anadolu/Getty
Friday, September 16
The first protest, in front of Kasra Hospital, began shortly after the news of Mahsa Amini’s death was published. Amini had been taken to the hospital from the police detention center after her arrest. According to videos and accounts, dozens of people gathered in front of the hospital and surrounding streets, some chanting “Death to the dictator,” while authorities blocked roads leading to the hospital. Other protesters gathered around the city’s Arjantin Square near the hospital, chanting slogans such as “I swear on the blood of Mahsa, Iran will be free” and “Khamenei is a murderer, his government is invalid.” Reporters at the hospital reported that several arrests were made during the evening. In Arjantin Square a young girl with a shaved head, her hair in a plastic bag, shouted in protest at Amini’s death. Protesters gather outside the hospital where Amini died Protesters gather outside the hospital where Amini died In the following days, the movement grew, with other women cutting their hair – something considered forbidden by some Islamic authorities – and posting the videos on social media. In parts of Tehran, chants of “Death to Khamenei” and “Death to the dictator” could be heard from the rooftops and inside the houses. Amini’s body was taken to her hometown of Saqqez for burial at night.
Saturday, September 17
In Saqqez, thousands of people attended Amini’s funeral. Women removed their headscarves en masse in the presence of police and chanted against the compulsory hijab. Men and women marched to the governor’s building in Saqqez after Amini’s burial. Many protesters were beaten and at least 13 were shot. Map of Iran showing where protests took place Mahsa Amini’s death sparked protests across Iran
Sunday, September 18
The protests spread to Sanaday, the capital of Kurdistan province. The police attacked the protesters with batons and tear gas. Shootings occurred in some areas of the city. At the University of Tehran, dozens of students marched through the university grounds chanting “Women, life, freedom”. In remarkable scenes, protesters, both men and women, shouted slogans denouncing the violent repression of women.
Monday, September 19 – Tehran
In Tehran, students organized rallies in seven universities. Slogans such as “We don’t want Islamic Republic” and “We don’t want forced hijab” were heard around central Tehran. Security forces used tear gas, batons and water cannons to disperse the crowds. Some photos and reports show that shots were fired at the protesters and several were injured. Police use water cannons on protesters in Tehran’s Vali Asr Square Police use water cannons on protesters in Tehran’s Vali Asr Square In videos taken at the demonstration, dozens of women took off their headscarves, waving them over their heads and chanting “death to the dictator”. Photos show protesters forming a human chain and standing in front of dozens of armed police. Photos on social media showed protesters setting fire to at least one police patrol van. Reports from Tehran indicate that dozens of protesters have been arrested. A witness in Tehran told the Guardian that at 8 p.m., the crowd around Vali Asr Square numbered 3,000 to 4,000 men and women. “The crowd that initially gathered on Abdullah Zadeh Street near the Hejab intersection was around 50 to 100 people. The IRGC [Revolutionary Guards]wearing black uniforms and riding motorbikes, they continued to attack the crowd and dispersed them, however the crowd gathered on another street a few minutes later. A video shows an elderly woman in Rust taking off her headscarf and shouting: “Death to Khamenei” “At the same time, the number of demonstrators had increased in the streets of 16 Azar and Italia, it was difficult for the security forces to face the people. I even saw twice with my own eyes that people pushed back the security forces by throwing stones and forcing them to flee.” The witness also told the Guardian that protesters delayed the advance and attacks of the security services by setting garbage cans on fire and using cars to block roads. From 21.30, security forces arrived and fired at the demonstrators. A witness says that police wearing green uniforms attacked the people with batons and the Revolutionary Guards shot the people with tear gas and bullets. A witness said many women at the rally had scarves around their necks and were not wearing hijabs. A few women began to form a small circle, waving their headscarves in the air. According to the witness, police on motorcycles attacked the circle of women, firing tear gas in an attempt to get them to disperse, but the women continued to protest. Protesters use burning garbage as a roadblock to block police at a demonstration in Tehran, three days after Amini’s death. Photo: Brochure A girl took off her headscarf on Keshavarz Avenue and stood on a concrete platform holding the scarf in her hand in an act of defiance and protest that echoed an image of Vida Movahedi, a young Iranian woman photographed rocking her hijab. a pole over the crowd during protests in 2017 before being arrested. Witnesses say the girl was pulled down and beaten by police, but continued to refuse to cover her hair. The extent of her injuries or whether she was later arrested is unknown. Yalda Meiri, a press photographer, posted on Instagram that she had been arrested at a demonstration on Hejab Street and taken in a truck to an unknown location with dozens of others. Relatives of those arrested at the protests say many were taken to the pro-government Basij militia base in Hor Square, but there is no official information on the number of those arrested or where or how they are being held. Mahsa Amini’s memorial service was held in the women’s wing of Evin Prison in Tehran. Aliyeh Motallebzadeh, a photographer and women’s rights activist imprisoned there, said about 40 female political prisoners gathered in the yard to protest.
Monday, September 19 – Kurdistan
Civil society groups in Iran’s Kurdistan province supported the call by political parties in the region for a general strike. Shops were closed in all Kurdistan provinces of West Azerbaijan and Kermansakh, especially in cities such as Sanadai, Mahabad, Asnoye, Sakkez, Marivan, Bukan, Piransakhr, Kamiyaran, Ravansar and Paveh . Kaveh Kermanshahi, director of the Berlin-based Kurdistan Human Rights Network, said at least three Kurdish civilians were killed when security forces opened fire on the crowd. Mohsen Mohammadi, Faridun Mahmoudi and Reza Lotfi were killed during protests in the cities of Diwandara, Saqqez and Dehgolan in Kurdistan Province. Their families have reportedly been threatened by security forces for speaking to the media and human rights organizations and for holding a public funeral. Kermanshahi said more than 85 people were injured in the September 19 protests in cities across Kurdistan and at least 215 people were arrested. Among the injured and arrested are many children under the age of 18, including a 10-year-old girl who was shot and seriously injured by government forces in Bukan. Based on credible reports received by the Kurdistan Human Rights Network, Kermanshahi said, some protesters injured in beatings and shootings by security forces have been detained without treatment and have not been taken to hospital. Protest in Rast, capital of Gilan Province. A protest in Rast, the capital of Gilan province Security forces have also threatened to arrest Kurdish activists if they take part in demonstrations and strikes. At least five female activists have been arrested in Sanadai and two activists in Marivan. Cell phone signals and internet were cut in many cities of Kurdistan. According to Front Line Defenders, an international human rights organization, at least eight women’s rights and civil rights activists have been arrested in Kurdistan Province. They confirmed the arrest of four women – Baran Sae’di, Mahrou Hedayati, Bahareh Zangiband and Azadeh Jama’ati. Environmental campaigner Farank Rafie and a civil rights activist named Lotfollah Ahmadi were also arrested in Sanandaj. as well as two civil rights defenders, Ribvar Kamranipur and Amjad Sae’di, in Marivan, Kurdistan Province.
September 19 – Other cities
The protests reached the city of Rast in Gilan province, where demonstrators chanted “Death to Khamenei”. In one of the videos, protesters forced security forces to retreat. According to police sources, 22 people were arrested there. Revolutionary Guards on motorbikes attack crowds of protesters to disperse them Revolutionary Guards on motorbikes attack crowds of protesters to disperse them Videos on social media showed people on the streets of Mashhad chanting “We are all Mahsa, fighting to fight” and “The mullah must perish”.
Tuesday, September 20
In addition to anger over Amini’s death and calls for an end to the mandatory hijab, protesters also chanted against Ali Khamenei, Iran’s “supreme leader,” as well as repression and human rights abuses by the political establishment. of the country. “Death to the Islamic Republic” and “Death to the dictator” are heard at most gatherings. Fatemeh Karim of the Kurdistan Human Rights Network confirmed that three more protesters died after being shot by anti-riot forces. Farjad Darvishi, a 23-year-old, was killed in Vali Asr…
