Women cut their hair, post selfies on social media without the veil or burn the hijab (German: veil) on the street. Images of the protests in Iran are currently circulating around the world: brave women defending themselves from the Iranian regime’s strict dress code and risking their lives every day. How do Ziba N. and Amon K., who have lived in Würzburg for many years, see the situation in their home country? At his request, the editors changed their name.
The latest protests began after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was arrested by the deputy team on 13 September in the Iranian capital Tehran. She was accused of dressing in a non-Islamic way. The young woman died shortly after. The government said her death was due to health problems. She passed out when she was arrested, then she fell into a coma in the hospital and died.
Strictly conservative dress codes are a compulsion for the population
Many Iranians doubt the official version of the story. Unofficially it is said that because a lock of hair was visible under his veil, the deputy squad arrested and tortured Mahsa Amini. The young woman’s death moved many Iranians. “That was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” explains Ziba N.
She is Iranian, she has lived in Würzburg since 2017 and knows very well the situation of women in her country of origin. The Iranian government’s strict dress codes mean one thing above all for women: coercion. “Few people in Iran like conservative rules, not even many men,” says the 41-year-old. Since the Iranian revolution in 1979, the Islamic regime has mandated that women cover their hair and cover their bodies with long, loose clothing in public.
“Freedom is becoming more and more important for women and they are ready to take to the streets and speak out against the government.”
Ziba N., Iranian from Würzburg–
However, one thing is often misunderstood by Western countries looking to Iran, says Ziba N. Many Iranians are devout Muslims, but very few of them identify with strictly conservative rules.
In large Iranian cities, many women wear veils only loosely
Iranian society has changed significantly over the past 20 years, explains the Würzburg native. Thanks also to the young women. “They are no longer retreating,” says Ziba N. “Freedom is becoming more and more important for women and they are willing to take to the streets and oppose the government.” The liberal mood has long since arrived in the big cities. Many young women, in particular, wear the veil loosely there and often their hair sticks out.
Amon K., a board member of the Iranian-German Society, often observed this during his visits to Iran. “When the moral police are not present, many young women wear the veil as a scarf and then quickly pull it over their heads,” explains the Iranian, who lives in Würzburg. The example of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini shows what happens when you are captured by the government.
In order for something to change in his country of origin, Amon K. also takes to the streets here in Germany. On 21 September he organized a solidarity demonstration for Mahsa Amini in Würzburg. People placed flowers and lit candles in front of the four-pipe fountain. He was also present at the Frankfurt am Main demonstration. For him it goes without saying that he defends the rights of women in his country, because: “We men want this freedom also for women”. But it is important that the protests around the world are not misunderstood, he continues. It is not a question of women who do not wear the veil, but “who have the freedom to decide for themselves whether to wear it”.
Feminist movement that affects all walks of life
According to Ziba N., the Iranian people’s protests against the current government are nothing new in their home country: most people are tired of suffering under the strictly conservative regime. She is all the more proud that the feminist movement in Iran has triggered this wave of compassion and solidarity around the world. “It is so important to give people moral support. It gives them hope and gives them strength.”
But Ziba N. also hopes that this will change the way people look at Iran, because: “Feminism and freedom are big problems in Iran, but so are the bad economic situation and the broken health system.” As a result, people from all walks of life have suffered. That is why Ziba N. and Amon K. wish that the world’s current focus on Iran does not quickly disappear again. “The situation of the people in Iran is very bad. They can’t stand it any longer,” Ziba N said.
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