By Armita Rohani
After the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini on September 16, 2022, the same day that Irainian protests started, the Iranian government has been trying to maintain these protests by killing protestors and striking fear into anyone else who wishes to speak out. Protestors’ lives have been lost to the hands of their corrupt government just for trying to speak out. However, the people of Iran are still speaking out and against their regime, as protests continue regardless of the death threats.
Over 1,500 protestors have been killed thus far, 15,900 held captive by the government. Women have thrown head scarfs and Iranian flags into fires, female celebrities have taken their hijabs off publicly in front of crowds, and the iconic “Women, Life, Freedom” chants have spread like wildfire throughout protestors and the world. Gas tears, sound bombs, and grenades have been thrown at bleeding crowds, buildings, and streets in order to control these protests. Access to the internet has been shut down to avoid any contact with international countries. And yet, however hard they may try, the Islamic Regime will not be able to kill their voices, nor their ideas, and the impact of this revolution will change the course of Iranian history for centuries to come.
On November 15th, security forces opened fire into a crowd protesting at one of Iran’s many metro stations; the number of fatalities and injuries have not been disclosed. Students from Iran’s Beheshti University committed a sit-down protest, commemorating a “Bloody November” and holding signs stating that it was dedicated towards imprisoned students. This three-day protest involved alumni and students denouncing their professors, preaching that they should support them. Wednesdays have been one of the most brutal and bloodiest protest days by far, with flash mobs in shopping centers chanting, “fire should be answered with fire.” On November 16th, clashes occurred in Kamyaran, during which a 16 year old was killed and people rushed to the hospital to get his body whilst military forces opened fire. 10 year old Kian Pirfalak was shot and killed by Islamic Republic forces. Fires, shootings, screaming, and rampage occurred, all in an effort to get the Iranian regime out of Iran. Iran’s regime has also banned actresses who have publicly supported the protests from acting. People like Taraneh Alidoosti, Sadaf Taherian, and Elnaz Rekabi have all unveiled publicly, either posting pictures of themselves without a hijab, or trying to compete in athletic competitions without one. Lives have been compromised, and those who are seen as a threat are given death threats. The dictator is relying on murder to silence people, even though it feeds their anger and strengthens their ideas. Violence has been a common theme for the Iranian government as they try to combat the protesters while hiding the murders they have committed to the world. People are dying from speaking out, and everyone needs to know this. Words of support are not enough, and they are not going to stop the killings. The people are angered as it is, and the world needs to do something about it.
