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The violence used by the authorities fails to silence the voices of Iranians, who continue to demand justice and equality while calling for support from international governments

Iran protests: repression increases as Iranians call for more international support

Iran commemorates 40 days of mourning for Mahsa Amini despite threats from authorities

Iran protests: Police attack protesters at Mahsa Amini's grave 40 days after her death

Iranian students go on strike and protests rage across Iran

"Mujer, vida, libertad": Iranians in Madrid demonstrate against dictatorship

AFP/JULIEN DE ROSA - A demonstrator at a rally in support of the Iranian protests in Paris
Margarita Arredondas
Updated: 03/11/22 | 18:58
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The wave of protests that has been sweeping Iran since the death of Mahsa Amini last September continues unabated. Despite violent repression by the Iranian authorities, young people and students continue to call for an end to the regime and demand freedom and equality. In fact, after several videos went viral showing security forces brutally beating protesters, protests have escalated in several parts of the country, including Sanandaj, Dehloran and the capital Tehran itself. 

Anger is growing daily against the regime, which is facing one of its biggest challenges since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The murder of the 22-year-old Kurdish woman by morality police for wearing the veil incorrectly has led to strong demonstrations that are shaking the foundations of Iran's theocracy.

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Shouts calling for the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are recurrent at the protests, as are flaming posters of prominent government figures such as Qasem Soleimani, the former head of the Revolutionary Guard's Quds Force who was killed by the US in 2020. 

"People are protesting very strongly, I am sure we will get the desired result," says Helen, an Iranian living abroad. For Nilufar Saberi, an Iranian activist in Spain, these protests represent what the vast majority of Iranians have always longed for. "We are finally doing it. There is no turning back from this revolution", she says. 

From these protests, described by some as a revolution, are being born symbols, slogans, leaders abroad and even anthems, such as the famous song 'Baraye', banned by the regime in Tehran.  'Baraye', performed by singer-songwriter Shervin Hajipour, is composed from tweets posted shortly after Amini's death. "For dancing in the streets", "for women, life and freedom", are some of the song's verses. Hajipour faces two charges of propaganda against the government and incitement to violence, and is also banned from leaving the country for six months for performing and disseminating the song.  

The demonstrations, which are marking a turning point in Iran and may bring change to the country, are also leaving hundreds dead. According to Iran Human Rights, at least 277 people, including 40 minors, have died during the demonstrations. However, these figures are "an absolute minimum", so the actual number of dead "is certainly higher". The Norwegian-based organisation also warns of the situation of detainees and "harsh sentences, including the death penalty". "The charges and sentences have no legal validity and their only purpose is to commit more violence and generate fear in society," says Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Iran Human Rights.

Sistan and Baluchistan, Mazandaran, Tehran and Kurdistan top the list of provinces with the most deaths during the protests, while universities and educational institutions have been targeted by the authorities. On the university campus in the Kurdish city of Sanandaj, for example, security forces used tear gas and live ammunition against students.

The authorities, meanwhile, continue to blame countries such as the US and Israel, as well as "some bad European powers", for organising the protests, which Tehran describes as "hybrid warfare" and "street riots".

More international support

Iranians are not intimidated by police violence. Every day they take to the streets to demand change, reform and freedom, knowing what it can lead to: arrests, torture and even death. As activist Masih Alinejad points out, "the people of Iran are brave enough to achieve democracy on their own".

However, due to the regime's oppressive measures, Iranians need international support to make their demands heard. "There are still problems with the internet and outages," Helen reminds us. Therefore, there is a need for international visibility of the protests and the dissemination of videos and images posted by Iranians. "It would be helpful if the international community does this for us. Our voice will be heard," she adds.

Demonstrations in support of the Iranian people are being organised in several countries. Last month, Berlin hosted the largest ever demonstration by the Iranian diaspora. An estimated 80,000 people - Iranians and supporters of the cause - attended the protest.

"I perceive the demonstrations as support for the people of my country", says Paria, an Iranian living in Spain, where protests have also taken place. Nilufar Saberi agrees, stressing that protests outside Iran convey "support for Iranians inside the borders of the Islamist theocracy who risk their lives every day". "Our support from abroad gives them a lot of support," reiterates. Saberi also stresses that the more support they receive, the sooner they will achieve "victory".

"You can help our voice to be heard in the world. Our people must be supported internationally like Ukraine", adds Paria, who also calls for governmental measures, "decisions that can improve our situation".

In this sense, Saberi admits that at the institutional level - both in Spain and in Europe - Iranians feel "more than abandoned". With respect to the Spanish government, Saberi points out that the Minister of Equality, Irene Montero, has disappointed them with her silence. However, this lack of support from the Spanish authorities does not surprise them. "There are a lot of economic and political interests involved," she explains.

Iranians are calling on Western governments to sever all ties with Tehran. Saberi calls for the closure of embassies, the expulsion of Iranian ambassadors and the freezing of assets of the authorities and the elite. "These assets belong to the Iranian people," she says. Saberi believes that the communiqués issued by governments "do not prevent bloodshed". Instead, they should "stop recognising this regime as a legitimate government" and impose the same sanctions as Russia, one of their allies.

Following Amini's assassination, the US imposed sanctions on the morality police and several heads of security organisations. Washington has also announced that it will work to remove Iran from the UN Commission on Women's Rights. Canada has taken similar steps by banning 10,000 Iranian officials from entering the country "forever". 

Despite the lack of support from Spanish institutions, Saberi points to the participation of Spanish citizens in demonstrations organised by Iranians, as well as the dissemination on social networks of videos and images of protests in Iran. "The media are fundamental at this time, it is essential that they are our echo, our loudspeaker, so that there is not a single person who does not know what is happening in Iran", she points out.

The Iranian activist points out that a change in Iran would be beneficial for the entire Middle East region. "When the fascist, Islamist regime that has been ruling us for 43 years is overthrown and a new democratic government comes to power, it will be a guarantee of peace, development and prosperity not only for Iran, but also for the whole region, the Muslim world and the whole world". At this point, Saberi highlights Iran's importance at the political and energy level and warns of a possible attack on Saudi Arabia to divert attention from the protests, as Saudi intelligence has recently pointed out.

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