Thousands protest 40 days after Masha Amini death in Iran - despite security warning

Masha Amini dies on September 16 while in custody of the religious police
William Mata26 October 2022

Mourners defied security measures in Iran to gather at the grave of Masha Amini - 40 days after she died following her arrest.

The 22-year-old woman died on September 16 while in custody, three days after authorities took her in for allegedly not complying with the country’s strict rules on wearing hijabs.

Shouts of “woman, life, freedom” and “death to the dictator” were heard at the Aichi cemetery in Saqqez, where Ms Amini is buried, on Wednesday.

It is the latest in a series of protests against the regime’s treatment of women, which has seen authorities heighten security and brutally crack down on gatherings. At least 141 people have died in demonstrations with thousands more injured.

Protesters chant at vigil for Amini in Tehran
Protesters chant at a vigil for Mahsa Amini
via REUTERS

Despite arrests and beatings, young women and school girls have continued to protest by removing and burning their headscarves, cutting their hair, and confronting security.

Mourners defied the state’s appeal to not gather in memory of Ms Amini at the 40 day mark - which is considered the end of the mourning period in Islamic culture.

But despite the presence of heavy security in the city of Saqqez, thousands of protestors were filmed chanting. Ali Daei, Iran’s greatest footballer and the second highest scorer of international goals in FIFA history, was said to have taken part - putting him once more at odds with his country’s government.

Untold numbers have been arrested, with estimates in the thousands.

Iranian judicial officials announced this week that they would put more than 600 people on trial for their role in the protests, including 315 in Tehran, 201 in the neighbouring Alborz province and 105 in the south-western province of Khuzestan.

Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi told the state-run Irna news agency that four protesters have been charged with "war against God", which is punishable by death in Iran.

Iranian officials have blamed the protests on foreign interference, without offering evidence.

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