JINA MAHSA AMINI
The face of Iran's protests. Her life, her dreams and her death.
In memory of Jina 'Mahsa' Amini, the cornerstone of the 'Zan. Zendagi. Azadi revolution.
16 February 2023 | By Gino d'Artali
And also
Read all about the assasination of the 22 year young Jhina Mahsa Amini or Zhina Mahsa Amini (Kurdistan-Iran) and the start of the Zan, Zendagi, Azadi (Women, life, freedom) revolution in Iran  2022
and the latest news about the 'Women Live Freedom' Revolution per month in 2023:  June 30 - 15--June 15-1--May 31 -16-- May 15-1--April--March--Feb--Jan 

So here is where the protests continue and I'll continue to inform you about it. That's my pledge.Gino d'Artali
Indept investigative journalist
CLICK HERE ON HOW TO READ ALL ON THIS PAGE
When one hurts or kills a women
one hurts or kills hummanity and is an antrocitie.
Gino d'Artali
and: My mother (1931-1997) always said to me <Mi figlio, non esistono notizie <vecchie> perche puoi imparare qualcosa da qualsiasi notizia.> Translated: <My son, there is no such thing as so called 'old' news because you can learn something from any news.>
Gianna d'Artali.
Note by Gino d'Artali: The Zan, zendagi, azadi!> (Women, life, freedom)  will only then end when khamenei and his puppets i.e. the morality police, the basijis and the irgc give way or go away!!
 

 
'TO WEAR OR NOT TO WEAR A HIJAB or TO BE OR NOT TO BE A FREE WOMAN'
Unveiled And Unbroken, Woman's Revolution In Iran

Iranwire - May 25, 2023
<<Controversial <Chastity and Hijab> Bill Presented to Parliament
The Iranian news website Entekhab published the complete text of the <Chastity and Hijab> bill, sparking heated debate among the public about personal liberties, women's rights and the extent of government control. The bill, which was presented to parliament on May 24 by the government of Ebrahim Raisi, outlines severe penalties for women who violate mandatory headscarf rules. Non-compliance with the Islamic Republic's strict dress code is deemed as <nudity.> Offenders could face fines of up to 8 million tomans ($150), with the fines being doubled if not paid within a month, lose their jobs and be banned from social media activities for up to one year. And repeat offenders would face imprisonment from six months to three years. The <Chastity and Hijab> bill has gained support from some officials of the Islamic Republic who consider the hijab a <red line.> Detractors argue that the proposed law focuses on punitive measures, restricts personal freedoms and unjustly interferes with individuals' clothing choices. The controversial bill was drafted following months-long nationwide protests demanding more freedoms and women's rights. All women in Iran must conceal their hair with a headscarf and wear loose fitting trousers under their coats while in public, but a growing number of Iranian women have appeared in public without head coverings. In response, authorities have closed down hundreds of businesses due to the failure of owners or managers to observe hijab rules, and taxi drivers have been fined for transporting women without headscarves. Police and volunteers issue warnings in subways, airports and other public places. Text messages have targeted drivers who had women without head covering in their vehicles.>>
Source:
https://iranwire.com/en/news/116899-controversial-chastity-and-hijab-bill-presented-to-parliament/

Iranwire - May 23, 2023
<<SPEAKING OF IRAN
A button, a love story, and an Iranian couple who will not be silenced
In the Spring of 2018, two men in Tehran had a humble but risky plan to show support for women who were protesting Iran's compulsory hijab laws, Jeff Kaufman writes for CNN. Reza Khandan is a graphic designer, the husband of renowned human rights attorney Nasrin Sotoudeh, and a father of two. Farhad Meysami is a physician, teacher and textbook publisher. The pair bought thousands of blank buttons and a small, hand-cranked button-making machine, printed green and red labels, and took turns producing buttons that said, in Farsi, <I Oppose the Mandatory Hijab.> Their buttons caught the attention of fellow activists - and Iranian authorities. On June 13, 2018, Reza's lawyer wife Nasrin was arrested for her work defending many of the women who publicly removed their hijabs. Soon after, Reza and Farhad's homes and offices were raided, the buttons were confiscated, and they were sent to the men's ward of the same prison that held Nasrin. Reza was released on bail after 111 days. Nasrin served over three years in prison before receiving a medical furlough because of a heart condition complicated by Covid-19. A gravely ill Farhad was released from prison in February after images of his severely emaciated condition - resulting from a long hunger strike - caused global outrage.
Read more here:
https://iranwire.com/en/speaking-of-iran-2/116825-a-button-a-love-story-and-an-iranian-couple-who-will-not-be-silenced/
Read the full article on CNN
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/22/opinions/iran-button-protest-couple-nasrin-sotoudeh-reza-khandan-kaufman
But here's an excerpt quote by Gino d'Artali letting Nasrin to word:
<<Undoubtedly, the <Women, Life, Freedom> movement has had an incredible impact. However, a strong start does not mean a victorious end. My biggest concern is that this movement will get hijacked by a small, prominent opposition group outside of Iran that is centered around the Shah's son, Reza Pahlavi. They have the ears of foreign media, are extremely rich and opportunistic, and have powerful connections. Yet they are disconnected from the Iranian people and the activists working in this movement. I fear we will go from a theocratic regime to a secular dictatorship.
Nasrin: I think the only way positive change is possible is through a fair and free referendum that takes place based on international standards and in which everyone gets to freely express their opinion. My biggest concern at this moment, however, is the poisoning of hundreds of schoolgirls across Iran and the fact that nothing is happening to stop them. Schools for young women in this country were established by the efforts of courageous women about a hundred years ago. Before that, they had no access to education. Now we see our girls poisoned and terrorized by a Taliban-like government. Iran's intelligence ministry last month said its investigation found no actual poisonings, and accused foreign <enemies> and dissidents of fomenting fears. Words cannot express the depth of our pain. During the civil rights movement in The United States, Americans had a chance to look at themselves and ask what kind of a nation allows such treatment of Black people. That’s the kind of question we in Iran must ask ourselves. What kind of society allows its children to go to school and get poisoned? My long-term concern is about freedom and democracy in Iran. Let's say we end up having that free and fair referendum. What will happen after that? Will we be able to take care of our earned democracy? I hope we will. I hope we will.>>
Opinion by Gino d'Artali: In my own words I don't trust this Reza Pahlavi one bit. I wouldn't be surprised if he, in the end will be a traitor of the 'Woman, Life, Freedom' revolutionary people.

Jinha - Womens News Agency - May 22, 2023
<<Grave of Jina Mahsa Amini destroyed
The grave of Jina Mahsa Amini, who was killed by Iranian regime forces, has been destroyed again.
News Center- Jina Mahsa Amini, who was arrested in Tehran for allegedly not wearing the hijab in accordance with government standards, was killed by Iran's so-called morality police. She was buried in her hometown Saqqez. Her grave in Saqqez has been destroyed again. Her family has announced that they will rebuild the grave. Before, the grave of Jina Mahsa Amini was destroyed and her family rebuilt it.>>
Source:
https://jinhaagency1.com/en/actual/grave-of-jina-mahsa-amini-destroyed-33313?page=1
ADD IM. GRAVE

Jinha - Womens News Agency - May 19, 2023
<<Iran warns unveiled women by hanging notices in shop windows
Sanandaj- Iranian women actively oppose the hijab despite the threats while the Iranian government has been threatening women in their workplaces and public places in recent days. The regime has hung notices in shop windows telling women that mandatory hijab rules should be observed.
They are monitored everywhere
A shopkeeper in Sanandaj told NuJINHA that secret agents visit the shops to monitor if women wear hijab. <They visit the shop to check if we wear hijab. They mostly warn my customers and me because we do not wear hijab. Most of my customers are women and they do not wear hijab. I cannot tell them to wear hijab. If I tell them to wear a hijab, this would be disrespectful because I do not wear a hijab myself.> The female shopkeeper also told us that she was threatened many times. <They have threatened me to close my shop. Despite their threats, I still oppose the hijab. Then, some officials came to my shop and hung a notice in the window reading, 'Please observe the hijab law'. I see this notice every day and I feel discomfort because of it. Whenever I see it, I feel like someone is beating me in the head with a hammer. I cannot tear it but I cannot because we are monitored everywhere.>
'Wearing colorful clothes is also banned'
B.Q. works as a salesperson for one of the shops. <A woman was warned by the secret agents because she wore colorful clothes. We are employees so we are under more pressure than shopkeepers are. The secret agents control not only our hijab but also our clothes and nails. We feel like we are robots controlled by them. We cannot wear colorful clothes. We are expected to wear only black clothes,> she said.
'We received an order not to serve unveiled women'
B.Q. also told us that their customers are often warned and sometimes threatened by officials. <We received an order from our manager not to serve unveiled women. Women are banned from entering shops without wearing hijab. However, most shopkeepers do not care about this ban and allow unveiled women to enter their shops. We do not use our social media accounts because the authorities also check our social media accounts. We know that if we are seen without wearing hijab, we will be fired.> >>
https://jinhaagency1.com/en/actual/iran-warns-unveiled-women-by-hanging-notices-in-shop-windows -33303

NCRI - Women Committee - in Articles - May 17, 2023
<<Struan Stevenson: Iranian Women’s Quest for a Free and Democratic Iran
Issues and Insights published an article by Struan Stevenson on May 15 about the continuing struggles of Iranian women.
Struan Stevenson is the coordinator of the Campaign for Iran Change. He was a member of the European Parliament representing Scotland (1999-2014), president of the Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Iraq (2009-14), and chairman of the Friends of a Free Iran Intergroup (2004-14). Struan Stevenson is also Chair of the ‘In Search of Justice’ committee on protecting political freedoms in Iran. He is an international lecturer on the Middle East and the European Iraqi Freedom Association president. His latest book is titled 'Dictatorship and Revolution. Iran – A Contemporary History.'
Following is the article by Mr. Struan Stevenson:
Iranian Women Fight To The End
As the nationwide uprising in Iran enters its eighth month, the bewildered mullahs, bereft of ideas on how to control their infuriated population, have reverted to their time-worn acts of vicious oppression. The inappropriate wearing of the hijab by women has become front and center the key issue of the uprising, which began with the killing in custody by the morality police, last September, of the young Kurdish girl, Mahsa Amini, for not wearing her hijab properly. For the theocratic regime, the oppression of women and their status as second-class citizens, is fundamental to their survival.
Schoolgirls who joined the demonstrations led to a sharp rebuke from the Supreme Leader, the elderly and deluded Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who told a Friday prayer meeting that the girls should be punished for their disrespectful behaviour. Hardliners have interpreted this as an open invitation to act and there have been repeated reports of toxic chemical attacks on primary and secondary schools in towns and cities throughout Iran. Thousands of girls have been hospitalized with nausea and severe breathing problems, while two young girls have died. In an attempt to appease the demonstrators, it even seemed as if the morality police had been reined in for a few weeks. Their notorious green and white vans, which regularly patrol the streets, had disappeared from view. But the new police chief - Ahmadreza Radan, appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in January after his predecessor was sacked, has reversed those commands, and ordered a renewed crackdown on women who violate the hijab rules.
CCTV cameras have been installed in public spaces and shopping malls to identify unveiled women. The mullahs have announced the closure of dozens of businesses that served women not wearing the hijab. Last week, the state-linked Tasnim news website reported that the sprawling Opal Shopping Center in western Tehran was facing closure because it had become a common meeting place for young women not wearing the hijab.
Struan Stevenson Escalating clampdown on opponents of the mandatory Hijab. Tasnim also said that three pharmacies in Tehran have been shut down and several restaurants owned by celebrity footballers and actors had received warnings and could face closure, for allowing unveiled women to use their facilities. Banners and billboards are now appearing across Tehran bearing images of young daughters and their mothers wearing the type of hijab that is accepted by the authorities. They carry the message: <Hijab is the legacy of mothers.> In retaliation to the defiance of Iranian women, the regime has ordered the arrest of two renowned actresses in an attempt to send shockwaves through the public ranks. Iranian state media reported that Tehran police have referred Katayoun Riahi and Pantea Bahram to the judiciary, accused of <the crime of removing their hijab in public and publishing its images in the virtual space>. The clerical regime has also turned its anger on students who participated in the uprising. Following widespread arrests during the early months of the protests, the mullahs have begun depriving students of education, suspending many male and female students from their classes in colleges and universities across the nation. In one case, reports on social media indicated that four named female students had been banned from studying for one semester on the orders of the disciplinary council of Damghan University. In another case, a young female student called Niloufar Mirzaii was arrested in the early weeks of the nationwide protests in November 2022 and held in the infamous Evin Prison in Tehran. She was released during a general amnesty in February, but immediately suspended by Al-Zahra University for two semesters (2.5 years). There are hundreds of similar cases reported on social media. Despite the killing of hundreds of protesters and mass arrests, the protests continue, coordinated by brave Resistance Units of the main democratic opposition movement, the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK), that have burgeoned across Iran. Although support for the MEK carries the mandatory death penalty in the Iranian constitution, last week MEK activists marched in four separate parts of Tehran and in 3 other cities, openly chanting <We are the MEK> and <Death to Khamenei, death to Raisi.> The release of tens of thousands of prisoners as part of a general amnesty for Ramadan, did not include any of the 3,600 MEK supporters who are currently being held and who face the potential death penalty. As the nationwide uprising continues, there can be no doubt about the Iranian people's long-standing discontent toward the current theocratic fascist regime that has brutalized the country for four decades, causing poverty, hardship, and tyranny. The protests have brought to the surface the deep frustration and rage that has been brewing under the surface for many years. The Iranian regime has typically responded with violence, suppression, and economic policies that have led to economic collapse. Despite these challenges, the Iranian people are demanding change and are determined as never before to continue the fight for the establishment of a free and secular republic in Iran. It is now time for the West to show their open support for the protests and to demand that the regime's criminal leaders like Khamenei and Raisi be held to account for their crimes against humanity and human rights abuse.
Source:
https://women.ncr-iran.org/2023/05/17/struan-stevenson-iranian-women/

 

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