Citizens across Iran riot as Iran’s Islamic Republic continues to crack down on protests with deadly force. Worldwide, local protests are also being held.
Protests in Iran following the death of 22-year-old Iranian woman Mahsa Amini have increased in intensity over the past weeks, leaving at least 185 protestors dead, including 19 children, according to Iran Human Rights.
In response to the death of Amini, citizens, especially young people, have risen up and flocked to the streets of some of Iran’s largest cities to rally against the Islamic Republic.
Iran is no stranger to civil unrest, having been governed by a religious dictatorship after the revolution of 1979.
Iran’s Islamic Republic enforces strict laws on the general population, especially women. These laws range from mandating that women wear headscarfs and shrouding their faces in public to women not being able to attend public events such as soccer games.
Rules are enforced by Iran’s feared morality police, who keep the public in check with beatings, torture, and jail time.
“The Iranian authorities’ brutal response to protests across many cities indicates concerted action by the government to crush dissent with cruel disregard for life,” said Tara Sepehri Far, senior Iran researcher at Human Rights Watch.
“When I heard about the kids, I cried,” said Mona Litvak, an Iranian Carlmont parent, “When you know those kids could just as well be your kids, it’s really hard.”
Litvak is an active protester of the Iranian Republic and often brings her children to meetings and rallies.
“I don’t know if I would protest in Iran right now, it’s easy to say you would here in America where we’re safe, but there it’s totally different,” Litvak said.
I don’t know if I would protest in Iran right now, it’s easy to say you would here in America where we’re safe, but there it’s totally different.
— Mona Litvak
The increase in news coverage on the protests in Iran has lit a flame among the Iranian-American community, who have hosted protests in San Fransisco, Los Angeles, and other populous cities across the country.
While turmoil and chaos reign in Iran, Iranian Americans hold out hope for the future.
“I’m so hopeful for change in Iran, but right now nobody’s sure,” said Michelle Ebadi, another Iranian parent at Carlmont. “I’m Iranian, and whatever happens there affects me too.”
Each person has their own ideas about what exactly the future might look like.
“With this, there’s a chance for a new government to come in, one that’s going to be humane and democratic,” said Reyhaneh Eghbali, an Iranian-born local resident and Carlmont parent.
The courage of the Iranian protesters has prompted an official White House response from President Biden.
“The United States stands with Iranian women and all the citizens of Iran who are inspiring the world with their bravery,” Biden said.
Iran’s Islamic Republic has remained silent throughout the firestorm of judgment and sanctions delivered by the global community; refusing to concede to humanitarian demands, and vowing to increase pressure on protestors.
Recently, the Islamic Republic cut the internet coverage in Iran to stagnate sharing of pro-protest videos, which has the side effect of disconnecting families from their loved ones in other countries.
“My family in Iran doesn’t get real internet, so they send us an update whenever they happen to get a signal,” Litvak said.
The Islamic Republic hosted pro-government rallies and released a statement to NPR, vowing that they will involve the military if necessary to quell the tide of anti-regime demonstrations.
“They’re going to have to make changes,” Eghbali said. “And every single one of us has a responsibility to spread this message of people fighting in Iran.”
