45 European Parliament Members Call for the Release of Girls Detained for Protesting Mandatory Hijab

Recently, 45 members of the European Parliament sent a letter to Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, urging her to "publicly support the women detained during protests against mandatory hijab and to demand that Iranian authorities release the detained women immediately and unconditionally." The protest movement against mandatory hijab, known as the "Girls of Revolution Street," began a few days before the widespread protests in December. Amnesty International issued a statement on Monday expressing concern for the situation of 35 women detained for protesting mandatory hijab, stating that dozens of detained women currently face the risk of unfair trials. The letter from the European Parliament members noted that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in response to these protests, republished a report indicating that "49 percent" of the Iranian population opposes mandatory hijab. The representatives rejected allegations from Tehran police that this movement was organized from abroad, emphasizing that it is entirely Iranian and coincided with nationwide protests against corruption, unemployment, and rising prices. The letter also mentioned the detention of Shima Babaei, Vida Mohadd, and Narges Hosseini. The 45 members expressed gratitude for Mogherini's statement during the nationwide protests last December. In further international reactions to the protests in Iran, Federica Mogherini described the killing of protesting citizens as "unacceptable" on January 2. Initial protests over economic conditions quickly took on a political dimension, with slogans against the leader and institutions of the Islamic Republic, or in support of the Pahlavi monarchs. In this context, support for the "Girls of Revolution Street" continued in front of the Behbahan city prison, with ongoing protests against mandatory hijab and violent confrontations with one of the "Girls of Revolution Street." Amnesty International's concerns about the situation of detained women protesting mandatory hijab reflect a broader crisis in Iran, where the responsibility of opposition groups and the potential radicalization of Iranian society are increasingly discussed.