New fight against surveillance cameras; The Iranians “arm” sanitary pads
Tehran: protests intensify against the actions of the Iranian security forces who shot at those protesting the death of Mahsa Amini.
Iranian women protest by covering security cameras installed by the authorities to monitor them with sanitary towels.
Many videos of CCTV cameras installed in subway stations and trains covered with sanitary napkins are also widely spread on social media.
I hid my period from everyone for months because it was taboo #Iran to talk about it. Imagine buying sanitary pads! We have to put it in a black plastic bag. It’s thrilling to see #women now they use their pads to cover the regime’s security cameras. #Revolution Iran pic.twitter.com/qZMZDfEiJL
— Shukriya Bradost (@ShukriyaBradost) November 17, 2022
Alongside some of the covered security cameras, one can also see the names of political dissidents in Iran who have been imprisoned or killed during the protests.
People are covering surveillance cameras in Iranian public transport with menstrual pads. Is there a best possible statement about gender, surveillance and resistance? #Hossein_Runqi next to it is a reminder that resistance exists even in cyberspaces despite cybersurveillance pic.twitter.com/AoXrQgX16d
-Azadeh Akbari (@AzadeAkbari) November 17, 2022
Security forces have opened fire on protesters at a subway station in Tehran, the capital of Iran.
Iranian security forces repeatedly fired into a crowd of protesters at a subway station in Tehran today.
Tehran residents often chanted anti-regime slogans at the city’s subway stations during protests.#Mehsa_Amini #MahsaAminipic.twitter.com/ncVjWK3q4n
— Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan86) November 15, 2022
Later, the Iranian people started to “fight” using sanitary pads to prevent the authorities from controlling them and enforcing the women’s “dress code”.
The published images of ‘blocking subway car cameras using sanitary pads’#Mehsa_Amini pic.twitter.com/JNNXEQiZSX
—Vahid Online (@Vahid) November 16, 2022
Social media users are celebrating the move as a strong statement against the policing and surveillance of women who have been at the forefront of the string of protests over Amini’s death.
Mahsa Amini, originally from Saqqez, Iran, was killed while in the custody of the morality police for allegedly violating the hijab dress code. Subsequently, women took to the streets in large numbers to protest Amini’s death, removing the hijab from her head, burning it and cutting her hair.
Morals police arrested Amini, 22, on charges of not following the hijab dress code. He was arrested while traveling with his family in Tehran. Amini was killed three days later on 16 September.
Eyewitnesses revealed that Mahsa was beaten by the police in the police van.
After Mahsa Amini’s death, protests erupted across Iran and internationally against the Iranian regime and the morality police. Protesters are calling for the hijab law to be revoked and the morality police system to be abolished.
Featured Content: Iranians use sanitary pads to combat surveillance of women by government and security forces
