Human Rights Defenders Center: The Courage and Resistance of Iranian Girls and Women Against Oppression is Inspirational

The Human Rights Defenders Center praised the courage, strength, and resistance of Iranian girls and women in the campaign "I am one of the countless women of the city" and stated that their actions against oppression and repression are exemplary and inspiring. This campaign began on the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death in the custody of the morality police and continues on the social media platform "X", where girls and women have shared their photos with optional hijab using the hashtag Mahsa Amini. The Human Rights Defenders Center referred to an interview with Bahareh Hedayat, a political activist, published in the French newspaper "Figaro" regarding the struggles of girls and women against the Iranian government's efforts to impose compulsory hijab. In this interview, published on Sunday, September 25, Hedayat stated that girls in Iran are willing to die rather than wear the hijab mandated by the government. She also emphasized that the hijab issue is no longer negotiable, and girls of "Generation Z" want to choose for themselves rather than live under restrictions. Following the nationwide protests in Iran after Mahsa Amini's death, the presence of the Islamic Republic's police in enforcing compulsory hijab on women in the streets diminished, but over time, starting from Farvardin of this year, the government has implemented a pressure policy for enforcing compulsory hijab more broadly in public spaces under the so-called "Noor Plan." During this time, many reports of violent encounters by government agents enforcing the "Noor Plan" for compulsory hijab have been published. Among them, Armita Garavand, a teenage student, was killed following an encounter with them in the Tehran metro. Additionally, after police shot Arzoo Badri in Noor County, Mazandaran Province, this young woman fell into a coma for a period. Despite increased pressures on women, civil resistance against compulsory hijab continues, with reports indicating a growing number of women and girls appearing in the streets of Iran with optional hijab; as reported by the Associated Press on Saturday, the sight of women without compulsory hijab in the streets of Iran has become commonplace. On the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death, several human rights groups called for the release of women activists in Iran. A joint statement from the U.S., Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK on the second anniversary of Mahsa stated that they stand with Iranian women and girls. The U.S. supports the people of Iran on the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death; new sanctions against the government will be imposed. Hannah Neumann stated on the second anniversary of Mahsa's death that the world has become aware of the cruelty of the Islamic Republic due to the "courage" of the Iranian people. Narges Mohammadi stated on the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death that the foundation of the religious dictatorship of the Islamic Republic has been shaken. A group of women’s rights activists emphasized the "continuation of the struggle until the victory of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement." The U.S. confirmed the findings of the UN fact-finding committee regarding the "suppression of women in Iran." A statement from several civil and professional organizations stated that there is no way but to continue the united and widespread "Woman, Life, Freedom Revolution."