Iran is currently several weeks into mass protests after a young woman from Saqqez, Mahsa Amini, was killed after being taken into custody by the Morality Police in Tehran for the way she wore her hjiab.1
And it has just been reported that the body of another young Iranian woman, Nika Shahkarami, was found in a Tehran morgue 10 days after she was allegedly chased by security forces at a demonstration and arrested. Before her family could bury her, her body was seized and interred by authorities 25 miles from her hometown.2
Protests have broken out all over Iran with demonstrators calling for the dismantling of the Morality Police, as well as women burning their hijabs in the street. Rights groups report thousands have been arrested and hundreds injured, mostly due to authorities using tear gas and openly firing metal pellets and even live bullets on crowds. These groups estimate the death toll is currently over 150.3
Make no mistake, Mahsa and Nika were senselessly murdered for challenging patriarchal and autocratic systems of control.
From the United States to Latin America, Iran, and across the world, women and allies are rising up to confront and resist state systems of misogyny and abuses of power. Bodily autonomy is about our essential right to make decisions about our own bodies, from hijabs to abortion. Our struggles are connected.
Be sure to check in on your Iranian brothers and sisters during this disturbing time. The future we are building is for all of us.
In solidarity,
Team AOC
P.S. You can learn more about the tragedy here.
1 - NPR
2 - Wall Street Journal
3 - Reuters
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