Iran Protests Rage As Thousands Defy Security Forces

[naomi24]

Protests raged overnight in Iran as thousands turned out to mark 40 days since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini who died in police custody on 16 September, sparking a wave of unrest.

Young women have since burned their headscarves and confronted security forces in a movement that shows little sign of abating,

Mourners marching to her grave chanted "woman, life, freedom" and "death to the dictator" and police are reported to have fired on protesters in Saqqez, Amini's home city.

Amini was arrested by Iran's notorious morality police for allegedly wearing her
hijab "improperly". I read elsewhere that two inches of her hair was exposed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-63411451

Both men and women reacting in a manner that few would have believed possible under a strictly Islamic regime. Will it abate - or will it escalate to other areas of the Muslim world?

[tomus42]

It doesn't look like abating any time soon. Let's hope they succeed against oppression and violence being inflicted upon them. If it spreads, good, but I fear for people's lives.

[Peter Pedant]

very difficult to comment
the commentators are so polarised
the engish commentators are so... polarised

They had some BBC 1 male professor on about Persian Lit and he ended with - "and I wanna say as well, ....."and launched into a diatribe about girls obeying their fathers and husbands

the girl in London sat there stunned

another girlie BBC commentator said " these demonstrations are very small, and will probably die down" - a few thousand, not much. I thought that she must be an iranian govt plant

God knows what the Iraqis think of all this. Iran has wished to redominate Iraq since er well it was driven out ( post 1918).
In January 2012, a French intelligence official stated that he believed "Chalabi to be “acting on behalf of Iran”.[14]" Chellabi at that time was er Prime Minister of Iraq ( not Iran)

Today R4 another leddy Iran commentator said "you see the peaceful Arab revolutions, were peaceful and people expected democratic change. Instead there was a slow decline into bloody civil war ( Syria, Iraq Yemen Libya)."

ma' sha' Allah baby
mash-aller? yuup

Ay dont think I have misrepresented anything hur hur hur

[ichkeria]

Kick Iran out the World Cup while we’re at it.
Optimal replacement with Ukraine :-)
Women’s groups have campaigned for this for some time.

[Peter Pedant]

erm and that will bring peace where

[youngmafbog]

I doubt it will escalate to other strict Islamic regions. Persia is slightly different to many in that it had 'freedom' prior to the uprisings that installed these fanatics.

I too wish them luck but like Tomus fear many will die in the coming months if they press on with this.

[davebro]

Similar to how the the Arab Spring started in Tunisia - just one individual starts the ball rolling. I don't think Iran will go the same way though - their repressive police & military are too strong.

[Peter Pedant]

erm come on baby
they didnt look on it as FREEDOM at the time

The Shah's wife said where are our supporters and someone haw haw haw quipped - - shopping on 5th avenue !

Khomeini was secretly broadcasing his ideas of back to the 7th century and people - he doesnt hate the 20th cent means to do it ! ( cassettes)

and the Beeb lovingly referred to "the Holy City of Qom" - the whole lot etc and the little Beeb fluffies used to inisst - well it is....

[Hazi-Hammenuhoth]

Let's hope for the sake of every woman living under that oppressive religion that this escalates to every Islamic state, centre of influence, school and mosque.

[ichkeria]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63414456

Kick them out

[lady-janine]

Hazi I have to agree and think that would be enlightening for them all. I have never understood the need for oppression. I think it shows a lack of ability (mental and physical) in the oppressors.

[ToraToraTora]

I don't think it will escalate to other countries but I do think this could be the beginnings of another Persian revolution. The mad mullah's have a choice, embrace change or start a brutal put down. It's encouraging that they have not done the latter, yet!

[ichkeria]

Yes this is very specific to Iran, where you have a particularly repressive religious and political system but actually a highly educated and diverse - and large - population.
I've sat through hours of our friends' wedding video in Isfahan - could have been anywhere in W Europe.