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Protests in Iran: "The death of Mahsa Amini has awakened Iranian men"

2022-10-02T13:37:17.298Z


DECRYPTION - In support of women's demands, Iranians do not hesitate to challenge the security forces, on social networks as in the street.


"Men have understood that women's demands are also theirs

."

For Mahnaz Shirali, sociologist, political scientist and specialist in Iran, this uprising takes on an unprecedented dimension.

Since the death of Mahsa Amini on September 16, men and women have been demonstrating hand in hand.

Every evening, they face the violence of the police in the streets, many risking their lives.

Women used to take part in Iranian protests since the 2000s. But this time the opposite is happening.

"This is the first time that men have joined a movement initiated by women, of such repercussions

", analyzes Azadeh Kian, Franco-Iranian professor of sociology at the University of Paris-Cité.

"They too want to express their fed up with the repression that strikes women

", continues the director of the Center for Teaching, Documentation and Research for Feminist Studies (CEDREF).

Read alsoDeath of Mahsa Amini: it is "all of Iran which is now demonstrating"

This symbolic support is extremely precious for Iranian women:

"it gives them power

", emphasizes Azadeh Kian.

"

They are there to recognize their courage to take to the streets, to risk their lives by being beaten up by the police

."

Very concretely, this masculine approval notably gives Iranian women more “

authority within their family, in front of their parents or their husband

”, specifies the professor of sociology.

Symbolic acts of support

The majority of Iranians who take part in these demonstrations are in their twenties.

“We are witnessing

the awareness of the generation of the 2000s who grew up with social networks

”, deciphers Marie Ladier-Fouladi, director of Franco-Iranian research at the EHESS.

But this movement also brings together, albeit in smaller proportions, the older generations, all social classes combined.

If they are mobilizing en masse it is because "

at the death of Mahsa Amini, they recognized the fate of their daughters, their sisters or their friends

", affirms Mahnaz Shirali.

Read alsoIran: anger against the veil ignites youth

In many videos relayed on social networks, men strongly embody this wind of freedom.

Many of them shave their hair, in support of those who have shaved their heads to protest against the wearing of the veil.

When women burn their hijab (the Islamic headscarf that covers the hair, ears and neck) in the public square, the men cheer in support.

Others wear clothes with the name of the movement “

Woman, Life, Freedom

” written on them.

However, these actions come at a price.

Since the beginning of the demonstrations, the repression of the Islamic Republic has killed 92 people, according to the latest figures from the association International Human Rescue.

According to specialists, more men are killed than women.

We don't really have any figures, but in the photos of the victims released, we see more young men

,” says Marie Ladier-Fouladi, who thinks that women “

are more injured than killed

”.

Mobilization of recognized personalities

This uprising also takes on a whole new dimension thanks to the support of famous Iranian male personalities.

This is the case of the players of the national football team who showed their support during a match against Senegal in Austria on Tuesday 27 September.

At the time of the singing of the hymns, the sportsmen presented themselves on the lawn with a black parka to hide their jersey.

Former football star Hossein Mahini was imprisoned "

for promotion, disorder and chaos

" after supporting the protests, reports Farid Vahib, director of the North Africa and Middle East Observatory at the foundation. Jean Jaurès.

The Iranian men's football team during the national anthem, in Vienna, on September 27, 2022. GEPA pictures/ Johannes Friedl / PANORAMIC

Actors, filmmakers, but also singers, television stars and journalists have been arrested after defending the “

Woman, Life, Freedom

” movement.

"Modernization" of society

This unprecedented support for the cause of women basically testifies to a modernization of Iranian society.

Like women, men in Iran are forced to follow strict rules of dress.

"They can be arrested by the morality police for wearing shorts

," indignant Farib Vahib.

This is why they “

reject the Islamic regime

” which promulgates laws which infringe on individual freedom.

They demand "

a separation between state and religion

", according to the specialist.

Read alsoIn Iran, the revolt against the veil turns into anti-regime protest

This " complex

" Iranian society

, " out of

step

" with the state, is modernizing under the impetus of the new generation.

"

A large part of educated young people are westernized

", relates Farib Vahib who affirms that "

70 to 80% of Iranians are against the compulsory wearing of the veil

".

An observation shared by sociologist Azadeh Kian who observes that

“for several years, men have been gradually supporting women's demands.

The striking example is the drop in the number of children per woman.

Today, Iranian women give birth to an average of 1.6 children.

That is a figure lower than that of France

”.

"

This decision is taken as a couple, so it means that the man agrees to have fewer children

, ”she continues.

Deeper claims

The uprising is not limited to the conditions of women, but highlights problems that have accumulated for several years

” against a backdrop of economic and social crisis, underlines Marie Ladier-Fouladi.

As early as 2017, violent protests erupted after the re-election of President Hassan Rouhani.

Iranians are revolting against inflation, unemployment and living conditions, which are deteriorating day by day.

In 2019, the disputes experienced a major turning point with the rise in the price of gasoline, the country suffering a major recession.

And, once again, popular mobilizations are bloodily repressed.

However, specialists agree that the current protest movement marks a break with the precedents.

Azadeh Kian thinks there will be a before and an after: “

Women will no longer accept forced marriages or submission.

Taking to the streets confers authority and autonomy.

They will be kept

."

For Farid Vahib too, “

these images will remain

”.

"

The taboo of the veil is broken, gradually women no longer wear it in the street

".

And this despite the risks involved.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2022-10-02

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