How far is too far? What does it take to cause a change?

Imagine being trapped under an article of clothing. A headscarf, to be specific. And imagine that if you were to take that little piece of fabric off, it could potentially cause the imprisonment of you, your family, your friends, and possibly even cause your deaths. It would be more confining than handcuffs, in a way. And however barbaric and inconceivable that may seem, imagine this law being created and enforced by the government of your own country. This is how millions of Muslim females have felt and been treated for over four decades, but the recent attacks of two young women have significantly sparked something in Iran, something irrevocable. It appears the brutal acts of the Iranian government have gone too far, and change is now officially imminent.

While vicious acts of violence towards Iranian women are not unheard of, or even uncommon, a recent series of events propelled a major transformation in the country of Iran. When 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died on Sep 16, 2022 after being arrested due to wearing her hijab “improperly”, the protests began. Amini was said to have died from previous medical conditions, despite the blows to her head and limbs. The protests originally began outside the hospital where she died, but they quickly spread. In less than a week, women burned hijabs, cut their hair, and demanded the end of Ayatollah Khamenei’s rule, the supreme leader of Iran.

Of course, Amini is not the only woman who has been affected by the unjust laws of the Iranian government. On July 16, 2022, a 28-year-old woman named Sepideh Rashno was verbally and physically attacked on a public bus by a woman named Rayeheh Rabii, simply because Rashno was not wearing a hijab. Wearing a hijab - a headscarf - is mandated by Iranian law and usually results in a fine, though in other cases, prison. Rashno was arrested two days later and spent a month and a half being interrogated and tortured in prison, not being released until Aug. 30, 2022. She was forced to apologize to Rabii on live television, despite being the one attacked on that bus. In response to these events, an activist commented, “You get on a bus in summer with the temperature at 40 degrees (40 degrees Celsius - about 104 degrees Fahrenheit). You are annoyed with wearing trousers, a blouse, a long cloak, and your headscarf. Then your headscarf falls, and somebody warns you about the hijab. That person bites you, but you are the one to get arrested.”

Yet while protests may signify change, be a call to action, they don’t result in immediate safety. These courageous women fighting for freedom were simultaneously putting themselves in dangerous situations. If wearing a hijab improperly will put you in prison and have you attacked, what will actively protesting against your country’s government do? A recent count done by Iran’s Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) on Oct 14, 2022 says that at least 222 people have been killed in the protests. And why stop there? Allegedly, a police officer in Zahedan had raped a fifteen-year-old girl, “inflaming” the community even more so. Furthermore, among these 222 people, one 16-year-old girl named Nika Shakarami received multiple blows to the head before having her body thrown from a building. This information was apparently difficult to acquire, as Shakarami’s death has been “shrouded in disinformation.” The Iranian government seems to not only be covering up women’s hair, but their own crimes as well.

So, why is the hijab causing such a big problem? It’s only a piece of clothing, right? The hijab dates back to when the British colonized Egypt. While there is a very detailed history surrounding it, the hijab was never something ‘evil.’ In fact, many women - like Rayeheh Rabii - like the idea of the hijab. It ties to Muslim religion, signifying a submission to God and a reminder to hold tight to Islamic beliefs such as kindness and generosity. Many women choose to wear the hijab, and that’s completely fine. The problem is just that—that it should be a choice. Just because you believe in the same God and religion as others does not mean you must be forced to obey the practices your government has set for you. Wearing a hijab versus not wearing one does not make you disobedient of your religion or beliefs. These protests are not signifying that hijabs, and therefore kindness and generosity, should be burned or ended as a whole, rather they are burning the idea of not having a choice. It’s as simple as that; the meaning of the choice is so incredibly powerful that no law should have the authority to restrict it.

These protests have not only swept through Iran, but many other countries and cities too. In the United States, thousands of women and men are wearing the colors of the Iranian flag, chanting Mahsa Amini’s name and holding signs with “Be scared!” and “We are one in this” written on them as they marched to the White House. While Washington D.C. has been an incredibly powerful movement, Los Angeles and Berlin—with an estimation of around 80,000 protesters— especially have been huge active supporters throughout these troubling few months. Let’s now do our best to make Bozeman the next big supporter. You may think, “This is happening in an entirely different country. What on earth could I do to help, even if it affected me?” Well, there are actually several ways you can help. One way could be a direct course of action, such as writing to your members of Congress, asking them to support Iranian women’s rights publicly; donating to or supporting human rights organizations; or joining protests (local, safe ones). You could follow social media accounts to stay updated on the news and share information and posts on protests. Even by just reading books, attending events where you learn more about oppressed communities, and continuing to raise your voice, you can significantly support women in Iran without having to put yourself in a dangerous position. Just like voting, every voice counts.

No matter how terrible the deaths and treatment of these women are, they have started something that is seemingly irreversible. As Kasra Aarabi—the Iran programme lead at the Tony Blair Institute—put it, “What we are witnessing now is the beginning of the end of the regime.” It seems like change is finally beginning in Iran, and from here, who knows what will happen? It’s very possible that the country will never be the same again, though for better or for worse we will have to see. In the meanwhile, you can do your part by simply acknowledging the problems and doing your best to raise your voice to make all Iranian women heard.