Iranian women take off Hijab, protest Mahsa Amini’s death after detention by ‘Morality Police’

Protests broke out in western Iran at the funeral of a 22-year-old Mahsa Amini who died after being in detention by morality police enforcing strict hijab rules on Saturday, September 17.

Women removed their hijab to protest against the death of the young woman in detention. As security forces used tear gas to disperse protesters, the women chanted “death to the dictator!”

The death of the 22-year-old Iranian woman in detention by morality police sparked protest by several Iranians who took to the street to protest. Some even protest on social media platforms.

An Iranian journalist tweeted, “Removing hijab is a punishable crime in Iran. We call on women and men around the world to show solidarity.”

Mahsa Amini was detained by Iran’s morality police for allegedly not complying with the country’s hijab regulations.

Protesters even took down a banner of Qasem Soleimani (the dead commander of IRGC Quds force) while protesting.

In the past few months, Iranian rights activists have urged women to publicly remove their veils, a gesture that would risk their arrest for defying the Islamic dress code as the country’s hardline rulers crack down harder on “immoral behaviour”.

Videos posted on social media have shown cases of what appeared to be heavy-handed action by morality police units against women who had removed their hijab.

Authorities launched probes into the death of Mahsa Amini following a demand by President Ebrahim Raisi, state media reported. Police said the 22-year-old was taken ill as she waited together with other detained women at a morality police station.

“Since her transfer to the vehicle and also at the location (station), there was no physical encounter with her,” a police statement said, rejecting allegations on social media that Amini was likely beaten.