Press Release

On 16 September 2022, Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman from Sanandajj in western Iran, was arrested by the Tehran “morality police”. According to Iranian news sources, the morality police arrested Mahsa for wearing her hijab in an “inappropriate” manner.  Mahsa died after falling into a coma as a result of her arrest and the violence she suffered.

This event, among many others, sparked a huge wave of mobilisation of Iranian women across the country. This mobilisation once again illustrates their exceptional courage, so brutal are the reprisals. Many of them cut their hair and burn their veils as a sign of protest. This momentum is a strong response to the repression of the patriarchal system and the religious dogmas that try to religious dogmas that attempt to control women’s lives and bodies. This violence and methods of controlling women’s freedom to control their bodies and live their beliefs are unacceptable and beliefs are unacceptable and intolerable. It is not just their rights that they are fighting for, but the rights of all women around the world.

The death of Mahsa Amini has caused deep outrage around the world. Feminists everywhere are expressing their support for Iranian women to bring their voices to the international community.

Women in Solidarity stands more than ever with Iranian women and women around the world who are fighting for their freedom against the domination of political diktats and religious authorities who want to roll back women’s rights. We call on all women to embrace the Iranian women’s struggle for self-determination!

Femmes Solidaires National