The death of the young Mahsa Amini (22 years old), last Friday, September 16, has awakened in Iran a revolt that had been dormant since the Persian spring, in 2019. As can be seen in the video that accompanies this news, now A wave of protests led by young Iranians fill the public spaces of the country in demonstrations against the mandatory use of the hijab, a Muslim veil that covers the head of women.
The protests over the death of Amimi, in police custody, have been going on for a week.
The young woman was arrested on the streets of Tehran by the Moral Police because she was showing part of her hair through her hijab.
The garment has been compulsory in Iran since the triumph of the Islamic republic in 1979. In the last month, Iran's president, Ebrahim Raisi, has tightened controls on the veil to ensure that women respect the dress code.
The mobilizations have turned the cities of Iran into the scene of daily clashes with the police, especially at night.
Some clashes left people dead and injured, according to Amnesty International.
Protesters have set cars and motorcycles on fire and set fire to government symbols.
Raisi is also the center of criticism, the chants of the protesters call him "dictator".
Women are taking off their veils and cutting their own hair in the streets under the slogan “women, life and freedom”.
The popular revolt calls for the government to take responsibility for Amimi's death.
Authorities have called the episode an "unfortunate incident" and have claimed that the young woman had heart problems and that after being arrested she suffered a heart attack.
Amimi's family denies that she had any pre-existing heart conditions.
