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- Mahsa Amini鈥檚 death in police custody ignites rage against Tehran regime
KARACHI: Leading Pakistani women politicians and rights activists on Saturday joined the growing global outcry over the death of Iranian Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody after being detained by Iran鈥檚 so-called morality police for disobeying the country鈥檚 strict dress code.
At least 35 people have been killed during widespread protests across Iran in the past week, according to Iranian state media, amid mounting anger over allegations that Amini, 22, was the victim of police brutality.
Amini was arrested in Tehran on Sept. 13 for allegedly wearing a hijab in an 鈥渋mproper鈥� manner. She was taken to a detention center where she collapsed shortly afterwards.
Her death three days later sparked large demonstrations and acts of defiance against the Tehran regime.
FASTFACT
In Iran, women are required to follow a strict dress code which includes wearing a headscarf over their heads and putting on long, loose-fitting clothes to disguise their figures. The laws are based on Iran鈥檚 interpretation of Islamic law.
In several clips that have gone viral on social media, women can be seen cutting their hair publicly and burning headscarves, an open challenge to Iranian authorities.
Protesters are demanding an end to what they say is police brutality, as well as moral policing, and say that women should have the right to dress as they please.
The Gasht-e Ershad (Guidance Patrols) is a special police unit in Iran tasked with enforcing the Islamic dress code in public.
Pakistani women politicians reacted angrily to Amini鈥檚 death, calling for an impartial investigation into the case and demanding more freedom for women in Iran.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really sad and if what is being reported is true, it鈥檚 a shocking and blatant violation of fundamental rights,鈥� Shazia Marri, Pakistan鈥檚 federal minister for poverty alleviation, told Arab News on Saturday.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a complete travesty of justice and highly condemnable. Everyone must have a right to choose,鈥� she added.
Iranian police said that Amini鈥檚 death was caused by a heart attack, and denied reports that officers had struck her with a baton and banged her head against one of their vehicles.
Sharmila Sahibah Faruqui, a lawmaker of Pakistan鈥檚 provincial Sindh Assembly, told Arab News that it is 鈥渉eartbreaking to see how Mahsa Amini was brutally killed by law enforcement authorities for not wearing a hijab.鈥�
She added: 鈥淭he voices of women must not be oppressed by the state. Women must be empowered, not silenced.鈥�
Sehar Kamran, a former Pakistani senator, said that 鈥淚ran must ensure that a few individuals do not smear the name of law and Islam, and should bring the culprits to justice.鈥�
She added: 鈥淭he onus lies on Iranian authorities to ensure justice so that such events do not occur in the future.鈥�
Anis Haroon, a member of the Women鈥檚 Action Forum in Pakistan, said that women鈥檚 rights have suffered in Iran due to compulsory dress codes, segregation and torture by the morality police.
鈥淭he role of the morality police should end,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he state has no right to intervene in the private lives of people. Women of Iran should be allowed to live like free human beings under the rights granted by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,鈥� she said.
Nighat Dad, a leading lawyer who runs the Digital Rights Foundation 鈥� a think tank tackling digital rights through a gender lens 鈥� said that Amini鈥檚 death has sparked resistance, 鈥渨hich the regime won鈥檛 be able to stop now.鈥�
She told Arab News that men supporting these protests is a 鈥渢estament to what the people of Iran basically want from the regime now.鈥�
Women were now deciding for themselves whether to wear the hijab or not, Dad said.
鈥淎nd it is actually their own choice. When we say 鈥榤y body, my choice鈥� in Pakistan, that is exactly what we mean 鈥� that we should have control over our body, not other people controlling it,鈥� she added.
Dancer and activist Sheema Kermani accused Iran鈥檚 morality police of having committed grave human rights violations for decades.
She said that the Iranian state鈥檚 warnings to citizens and an Internet blackout are 鈥渙minous signs that reflect the intention of the totalitarian regime to use more brutal force against the protesters.鈥�
She said: 鈥淲e are proud of Iranian women for offering strong resistance despite being the most vulnerable group.鈥�
Nayab Gohar Jan, a Pakistan People鈥檚 Party activist, told Arab News that it is time for Iran to have serious conversations about women鈥檚 rights.
鈥淕iven the scale of protests across the country, it may also be time for Iranian authorities to open up dialogue on these issues,鈥� she said.