On the Second Anniversary of Mahsa Amini's Death, Several Human Rights Groups Call for the Release of Women Activists in Iran

On the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death in the Islamic Republic's morality police, and the government's deadly crackdown on nationwide protests that followed, twelve organizations advocating for women's rights and human rights called for the immediate release of women activists in this field in Iran. In a joint statement sent to Voice of America on the evening of Monday, September 17, they also demanded support for women's rights in Iran. The statement noted, "Currently, at least 25 women human rights defenders associated with the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement are imprisoned, and many others are being tried in courts and are on the verge of imprisonment. Women whose names are fading into oblivion as the movement quiets in the streets and attention shifts away from the situation in Iran." They emphasized, "At least 22,000 cases of protesters have been pardoned... but many activists, especially feminists and women human rights defenders who are believed by Iranian security forces to have played a significant role in igniting protests and feminizing demands, remain in prison or were arrested and imprisoned in subsequent months." These human rights organizations further demanded that the Islamic Republic government "immediately and unconditionally release all imprisoned human rights defenders in Iranian prisons, including these women human rights defenders. End its discriminatory policies against women and the systemic violence against them in the streets." They stressed that the Iranian government must "recognize the right to choose and women's freedom over their bodies and abolish the discriminatory mandatory hijab law that has impacted the lives of Iranian women for over four decades. Abolish the inhumane death penalty and particularly end the issuance of death sentences against human rights defenders like Sharifeh Mohammadi." These twelve organizations active in the field of women's rights and human rights also called on "international and regional human rights organizations" to monitor the situation of detainees and pressure Iranian authorities for their release. They urged "feminist groups and organizations" to continue supporting the rights of Iranian women and demanding freedom of dress and "bodily autonomy" through various means, from issuing statements to holding gatherings. Shahbanu Farah Pahlavi stated: "The efforts of the 'religious dictatorship' to eliminate the role of women in Iranian society have failed." Prince Reza Pahlavi called for the unity of Iranians against the Islamic Republic on the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death. Iranians abroad held protest gatherings and marches in dozens of cities worldwide on this anniversary. Mahsa Amini's father praised the "general strike" on the second anniversary of his daughter's death as a "clear warning and protest message" to the Islamic Republic. The sixth day of Serwan Ahmad's hunger strike; Evin prison officials oppose this children's rights activist's medical leave. Three political prisoners in the women's section of Evin and 22 prisoners in Urmia have gone on hunger strike.