Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi wants to keep strict rules on women for hijab (headscarf) offences despite fierce protests in the country. According to a report by the German news agency dpa on Sunday (Apr 21), President Raisi said that respecting the hijab was not only a religious but also a political and legal obligation for Iranian women.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi wants to keep strict rules on women for hijab (headscarf) offences despite fierce protests in the country. According to a report by the German news agency dpa on Sunday (Apr 21), President Raisi said that respecting the hijab was not only a religious but also a political and legal obligation for Iranian women. Raisi added that there was no doubt whatsoever that checks must continue to be carried out consistently. The president's remarks came more than a month after police and moral guardians in Iran once again stepped up a crackdown on headscarf violations. Also read | Iran escalates hijab crackdown, victims speak out against morality police abuse Videos on social media showed clashes between women and moral guards during some checks. Amini's death sparked nationwide protests The death of Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in police custody in September 2022 sparked nationwide protests against the Islamic regime and its dress code. Amini was detained by the moral police because of an allegedly ill-fitting headscarf. A few days later, she died at the police station, allegedly as a result of police violence. Also watch | The West Asia Post: Hijab or economy? Iranians make the choice × Since her death, more and more Iranian women have ignored the mandatory headscarf rule, and hundreds have died in the protests. Women subjected to 'draconian' surveillance on hijab rules Last month, Amnesty International said that Iran was subjecting women to draconian surveillance on the hijab rules. In a report based on testimony from over 40 women inside Iran, Amnesty said that women were being targeted with "widespread surveillance" in public spaces and "mass police checks" targeting women drivers. "In a sinister attempt to wear down resistance to compulsory veiling... Iran's authorities are terrorising women and girls by subjecting them to constant surveillance and policing," said Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty's deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa. (With inputs from agencies)

Iran President Ebrahim Raisi wants to keep strict hijab rules despite fierce protests

According to local media reports, the Iranian judiciary is prosecuting a woman who allegedly “disrespected” her headscarf during a public meeting in Tehran. The Iranian news agency Tasnim reported the incident on Saturday (February 18) and said that legal proceedings against the individual who threw her headscarf on the ground have begun. This comes after reports emerged of protests in several Iranian cities on Thursday.&nbsp;

“Legal proceedings have been launched against a woman who disrespected her headscarf during the election for the Tehran branch of the Iran Construction Engineering Organisation,” said the Tasnim news agency. The report added, “It was falsely claimed that this individual was disqualified (from the branch election) for not wearing the headscarf.”

A short video of the incident was also published by the Tehran municipality newspaper Hamshahri which showed the woman throwing her hijab on the ground as the participants left the meeting, reported AFP.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-executes-second-protester-in-less-than-a-week-rights-group-claim-450-killed-in-protests-542169">Iran executes second protester in less than a week; rights group claims 450 killed in protests</a>

Iran witnessed nationwide protests last year, following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini who died after she was detained by authorities for her alleged breach of the dress code. The requirement for women to wear a headscarf or hijab has been enshrined in Iranian law since the Islamic revolution of 1979.&nbsp;

However, the recent long wave of unrest has now posed the biggest challenges to the Iranian regime as women were seen openly defying the hijab law, burning their headscarves and even cutting their hair during these protests. The recent demonstrations seen on multiple social media videos and took place overnight, on Thursday, were 40 days after the execution of two protesters <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-executes-2-more-men-detained-amid-nationwide-protests-550255">last month</a> and two others in December, reported Reuters.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/middle-east/iran-finds-new-methods-to-enforce-hijab-law-calls-it-a-legal-issue-reports-550523">Iran finds new methods to enforce Hijab law, terms it part of religious values: Reports</a>

While it seemed like the protests had tapered off which could be attributed to the country’s execution of demonstrators and a wider crackdown on acts of civil disobedience but reports emerging on Thursday indicate otherwise.

Last month, Iran’s judiciary said that they wanted to resume implementing and enforcing their hijab rules, the violation of which led to penalties including exile. Additionally, in the past couple of weeks several cafes, restaurants and pharmacies have been shut down by Iranian authorities for serving customers who were not wearing a hijab.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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According to local media reports, the Iranian judiciary is prosecuting a woman who allegedly “disrespected” her headscarf during a public meeting in Tehran. The Iranian news agency Tasnim reported the incident on Saturday (February 18) and said that legal proceedings against the individual who threw her headscarf on the ground have begun.

According to local media reports, the Iranian judiciary is prosecuting a woman who allegedly “disrespected” her headscarf during a public meeting in Tehran. The Iranian news agency Tasnim reported the incident on Saturday (February 18) and said that legal proceedings against the individual who threw her headscarf on the ground have begun. This comes after reports emerged of protests in several Iranian cities on Thursday. “Legal proceedings have been launched against a woman who disrespected her headscarf during the election for the Tehran branch of the Iran Construction Engineering Organisation,” said the Tasnim news agency. The report added, “It was falsely claimed that this individual was disqualified (from the branch election) for not wearing the headscarf.” A short video of the incident was also published by the Tehran municipality newspaper Hamshahri which showed the woman throwing her hijab on the ground as the participants left the meeting, reported AFP. ALSO READ | Iran executes second protester in less than a week; rights group claims 450 killed in protests Iran witnessed nationwide protests last year, following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini who died after she was detained by authorities for her alleged breach of the dress code. The requirement for women to wear a headscarf or hijab has been enshrined in Iranian law since the Islamic revolution of 1979. However, the recent long wave of unrest has now posed the biggest challenges to the Iranian regime as women were seen openly defying the hijab law, burning their headscarves and even cutting their hair during these protests. The recent demonstrations seen on multiple social media videos and took place overnight, on Thursday, were 40 days after the execution of two protesters last month and two others in December, reported Reuters. ALSO READ | Iran finds new methods to enforce Hijab law, terms it part of religious values: Reports While it seemed like the protests had tapered off which could be attributed to the country’s execution of demonstrators and a wider crackdown on acts of civil disobedience but reports emerging on Thursday indicate otherwise. Last month, Iran’s judiciary said that they wanted to resume implementing and enforcing their hijab rules, the violation of which led to penalties including exile. Additionally, in the past couple of weeks several cafes, restaurants and pharmacies have been shut down by Iranian authorities for serving customers who were not wearing a hijab. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Iran to prosecute woman who allegedly ‘disrespected’ her headscarf: Reports

Iran government has sentenced three more anti-government protesters to death on charges of ‘waging war on God’ amid international criticism.

Iran sentences three more protesters to death

Iran continues to remain on the boil, the Iranian regime has once again unleashed its fury on the protesters. Three more protesters have been killed by the Iranian forces. Watch the full video to know more.

Iran forces kill 3 more protesters in Mahsa's province

Iran on Monday launched cross-border missile and drone strikes against Kurdish opposition groups based in northern Iraq. As per a statement by the local authorities, one person was killed and eight wounded in the attack.

An Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-managed Fars News Agency report quotes Iranian military sources confirming that "Iran has carried out attacks with drones and missiles targeting the headquarters of terrorist parties in the northern region of Iraq."

Watch |&nbsp;Court in Iran issues first death sentence amid anti-hijab protests

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Talking to AFP, Tariq al-Haidari, mayor of Koysanjaq in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region said that five Iranian missiles were used to target a building used by Kurdistan Democratic Party.

More strikes were reported from other parts of Kurdistan. &nbsp;Bases of the Iranian Communist Party and the Iranian nationalist group Komala in the Zrgoiz region were the target of four drone strikes, said a Komala leader Atta Seqzi.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-accuses-more-than-750-people-of-incitement-to-killing-in-recent-riots-533764">Iran accuses more than 750 people of ‘incitement to killing’ in ‘recent riots’</a>

Seqzi added that the groups were warned of the attacks and had evacuated in time, there were “no deaths or injury”.

In September, Tehran launched similar attacks on Iraq’s Kurdistan region, blaming Kurdish armed groups for stoking the unrest that had stoked the Islamic Republic for more than a month.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/syria-strikes-down-israeli-missiles-aimed-at-air-force-base-533820">Syria strikes down Israeli missiles aimed at air force base</a>

At the time, the UN mission in Iraq condemned the attacks, saying "rocket diplomacy is a reckless act” and warned that it could have "devastating consequences".

Since the death of 22-year-old Mahasa Amini at the hands of the country’s morality police, Iran has been rocked by a spate of protests and unrest. The protests have once again stoked tensions between Tehran and Kurdish opposition groups.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Iran on Monday launched cross-border missile and drone strikes against Kurdish opposition groups based in northern Iraq. As per a statement by the local authorities, one person was killed and eight wounded in the attack.

Iran on Monday launched cross-border missile and drone strikes against Kurdish opposition groups based in northern Iraq. As per a statement by the local authorities, one person was killed and eight wounded in the attack. An Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-managed Fars News Agency report quotes Iranian military sources confirming that "Iran has carried out attacks with drones and missiles targeting the headquarters of terrorist parties in the northern region of Iraq." Watch | Court in Iran issues first death sentence amid anti-hijab protests Talking to AFP, Tariq al-Haidari, mayor of Koysanjaq in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region said that five Iranian missiles were used to target a building used by Kurdistan Democratic Party. More strikes were reported from other parts of Kurdistan. Bases of the Iranian Communist Party and the Iranian nationalist group Komala in the Zrgoiz region were the target of four drone strikes, said a Komala leader Atta Seqzi. Also read | Iran accuses more than 750 people of ‘incitement to killing’ in ‘recent riots’ Seqzi added that the groups were warned of the attacks and had evacuated in time, there were “no deaths or injury”. In September, Tehran launched similar attacks on Iraq’s Kurdistan region, blaming Kurdish armed groups for stoking the unrest that had stoked the Islamic Republic for more than a month. Also read | Syria strikes down Israeli missiles aimed at air force base At the time, the UN mission in Iraq condemned the attacks, saying "rocket diplomacy is a reckless act” and warned that it could have "devastating consequences". Since the death of 22-year-old Mahasa Amini at the hands of the country’s morality police, Iran has been rocked by a spate of protests and unrest. The protests have once again stoked tensions between Tehran and Kurdish opposition groups. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

One killed, eight injured in Iranian drone strike on Kurdish opposition groups in Iraq

According to the reports, Iran’s Revolutionary Court has sentenced an anti-government protester to death, amid persistent unrest in the country. Watch full video to know more

Court in Iran issues first death sentence amid anti-hijab protests

On the woeful day of 16th September 2022, a young 22 yr old woman named Mahsa Amini hailing from the Northern Kurdish province of Tehran was visiting her family when she was legally detained by the Guidance Patrol, a vice squad of the Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran overseeing that the public but mainly women adhere to the implementation of hijab regulations, and Amini openly defied these societal norms by wearing her hijab in a relaxed manner which exposed her raven hair that draped over the shoulders and ran long down her back and this expression of her existence was found to be non-compliant with government standard.

Here is a little something that is often ignored when victims are covered in popular media outlets. She was a music lover who worked in a clothing store and she enjoyed being photographed blowing the wish seeds off a dandelion flower. It's important to note that like so many Iranian women, Amini was wearing the compulsory Hijab or headscarf loosely over her head while four decades ago during the Iranian revolution in 1979, the women didn't have to adhere to wearing a hijab in public. 

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-protests-raisi-accuses-biden-of-inciting-chaos-in-the-country-525946">Raisi accuses Biden of 'inciting chaos' in the country</a>

The Iranian morality police enforcing the country’s grossly infringing hijab or headscarf law that considers any woman not wearing her headscarf from exactly where her headline starts an attack on the Islamic society of Iran. Some of her hair showed and with no warning, the Iran morality squad detained&nbsp; Amini for wearing “ unsuitable attire” and parcelled her to a reduction centre that instructs women how to comply with the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code and she was supposed to be released the same night. 

But she wasn’t, three days after her arrest, she was declared brain dead. After this, the so-called Morality Police covered up their actions by shrugging any ounce of responsibility. It called&nbsp;her death "an unfortunate incident” and blamed&nbsp;Amini’s demise on a pre-existing heart condition which caused her to collapse. 

The otherwise healthy woman was brutally tortured by the so-called morality police for not wearing her Hijab or head-covering properly as evidenced by the leaked CT scan report that details the multiple bone fractures which caused her brain to slip into a haemorrhage leading to a two-day coma and stroke. This medical report clearly points to her being struck on her head multiple times for flouting Iran’s Hijab laws. 

The people of Iran have taken to the streets to protest the death of Mahsa Amini at the hands of the morality police that patrol the streets, verbally abusing women, detaining them and even torturing them to death. 

The women of Iran are at the forefront of protesting Iranian theocratic society by burning their hijabs in the streets and cutting off their hair in an act of defiance and chanting death to the dictator, the Iranian supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, while risking their lives for freedom. 

With several now dead, the Iranian government is cracking down on the intensifying protests with violence and tear gas to disperse crowds. All while the protests are only growing beyond the borders of the country. Furthermore, Iran has imposed restrictions on Whatsapp and Instagram to fracture communications with actual information from the ground of mass protests demanding justice for the death of Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iran’s morality police.&nbsp;

The United States and Australia joined the protest, mainly in part due to the death of #MahsaAmini trending on all social media platforms, and with the recent overturning&nbsp;of Roe v Wade that took away people’s freedom to choose what to do with their bodies, the people are sick and tired of authoritative regimes dismantling the system of democracy and mercilessly killing people for their political agendas.

The US has imposed sanctions on Iran’s morality police and Iran has suspended the leader of its morality police but this is just saving face. The protests are drawing comparisons with the worldwide BLM protests as the police brutality transcends borders with its repercussions felt through the hearts and minds of people who mourn and demand change after the brutal death of Mahsa Amini who dared to wear her Hijab a little bit relaxed rather than adhering to the restrictive rules of how a woman should be dressed in public. 

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&nbsp;

But the Iranian President didn’t expect such an uprising as he underestimated the power of the 42.12 million women that are tired of the chokehold that ha gripped their right to exist as they please.&nbsp;

The women of Iran are being unbelievably brave and courageous with their show of unacceptance of the oppressive and regressive laws of Iran by channelling their grief over Mahsa Amini’s death by walking opening in public without their hijab facing verbal abuse, detainment and men’s anger towards flouting the laws of the sacred Islamic society. 

The social media feeds of people around the world are bearing witness to the stand that Iranian women are taking in their fight for basic rights. While even celebrities like actresses like Gemma Chan, Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain and many more back the Iranian women online through personalised heartfelt posts and online resources to donate to NGOs, human rights organizations like Amnesty International to open access to the barred internet by the Iranian government.&nbsp;

It's not a surprise that even during the burial of Mahsa Amini’s body, her father denounced any Islamic prayers by the Mullah ( Islamic Priest) over his daughter’s dead body as the oppressive and regressive policy of the Islamic faith responsible for her death. But not exactly, the Islamic faith requirement is masked by the actions of the so-called morality police who committed this crime are illiterate, violent goons who are deployed by the government to keep their women in check as they fear that if Iranian women are granted basic rights, it could set precedent and force them to grant other rights to the people of Iran. 

The Iranian government views Women’s Rights as an existential threat as they think women’s rights are a new conspiracy theory from the western and foreign countries. Much like the freedom of speech or the dreadful system of democracy that God forbid Iranian people to have a say in who governs their country. 

With bigger issues like increased living costs, food insecurity, and water rights, the Iranian government chooses to dedicate its resources to abusing and senselessly killing women on the baseless weaponization of the Islamic faith to force compulsion of wearing a Hijab or headscarf in public and if anyone dares defy their so-called rules, death through torture is the endgame. The maniacal and ludicrous nature of these Hijab laws signals the bigger problem of gender inequality that polices what women should and shouldn’t wear in public.&nbsp;

The worst aspect of this whole ordeal is the ideology that resides in the brains of Iranian government officials like the Iranian president, Ebrahim Raisi who didn’t attend an interview with CNN Journalist, Christiane Amanpour who didn’t adhere to wearing her Hijab as she is of Iranian descent but she is not in Iran, and that why she should she be subjected to adhere to the oppressive hijab rules at all is the real question. I applaud this stand by Christiane as the Iranian president is just afraid of answering her questions and that is why he doubled down on his demented ideology that a woman should be kept in her place and not be allowed to express her personality through her clothing even if she is a world-renowned journalist. 

The superiority complex that the Iranian president has projected points to his revolutionary male super-ego who wants to enforce his will on the Iranian women when his focus should be on the staggering issues mounting up and chipping away at Iran’s theocracy. As he has a ridiculous amount of confidence that the protests will die down by the time he gets back from his phoney speech at the New York General Assembly. His actual feelings lie in contradiction to his superficial statement of condolences to Mahsa Amini’s family. 

Moreover, he had the audacity to deflect and shift focus to the US by stating “Are deaths of Americans at the hands of US police investigated?”&nbsp;It is really something when a President of a country can play the blame game of dirty politics while being questioned for an innocent women death in his own country whose blame is on his own head. The real question is the dystopian unfolding of real events, the death of Mahsa Amini is something straight out of an episode of Handmaid’s Tale. 

Even the Iranian Interior Minister has taken no responsibility and blames Mahsa Amini’s death on her “heart condition”. Anybody can easily make out that the Iranian government officials have revised from the same script and are ignoring actual medical reports that detail their role in aiding and abetting the death of Mahsa Amini, a woman who dared to relax the chokehold imposed on a woman’s right to choose.&nbsp;

The sadistic Iranian regime is cracking down on the media coverage of the Mahsa Amini protests by arresting at least a dozen journalists three of them being women. And out of those three women journalists, one of them is Niloofar Hamedi, who broke Mahsa Amini’s story and has been arrested by Iranian authorities with even her Twitter account being suspended as well as a photojournalist named Yalda Moaiery has been arrested by the Iranian authorities during the anti-state protests while she was covering the agitated crowd on Hejab street in downtown Tehran. 

With Iran’s track record to silence the fourth pillar of democracy, it's not a surprise that Iran is capturing anyone and silencing their voices as the country has done in the past with the track record of arresting, detaining, murdering, disappearing or executing at least 1,000 journalists and citizen-journalists since 1979.&nbsp;

As of today, a young Iranian woman named Hadis Najafi whose video of tying her unscarved hair back and stepping into the middle of a protest went viral has been shot dead in the country, according to official reports. As a woman, this is hitting me like an avalanche of emotions that had I been born in Iran, the state policies would have choked me to death already.

It is not ironic that women in Iran are fighting for their right not to wear the hijab, while women in India are fighting for their right to wear one. Both are fighting for the same thing: her right to choose. The viral words by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ciws-CRqO6V/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link">Namarata Zakaria</a> cement the crux of the issue, a woman’s right to choose what she can wear and what she can’t. 

&nbsp;

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On the woeful day of 16th September 2022, a young 22 yr old woman named Mahsa Amini hailing from the Northern Kurdish province of Tehran was visiting her family when she was legally detained by the Guidance Patrol, a vice squad of the Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran overseeing that the public but mainly women adhere to the implementation of hijab regulations, and Amini openly defied these societal norms by wearing her hijab in a relaxed manner which exposed her raven hair that draped over the shoulders and ran long down her back and this expression of her existence was found to be non-compliant with government standard.

On the woeful day of 16th September 2022, a young 22 yr old woman named Mahsa Amini hailing from the Northern Kurdish province of Tehran was visiting her family when she was legally detained by the Guidance Patrol, a vice squad of the Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran overseeing that the public but mainly women adhere to the implementation of hijab regulations, and Amini openly defied these societal norms by wearing her hijab in a relaxed manner which exposed her raven hair that draped over the shoulders and ran long down her back and this expression of her existence was found to be non-compliant with government standard. Here is a little something that is often ignored when victims are covered in popular media outlets. She was a music lover who worked in a clothing store and she enjoyed being photographed blowing the wish seeds off a dandelion flower. It's important to note that like so many Iranian women, Amini was wearing the compulsory Hijab or headscarf loosely over her head while four decades ago during the Iranian revolution in 1979, the women didn't have to adhere to wearing a hijab in public. Also Read | Raisi accuses Biden of 'inciting chaos' in the country The Iranian morality police enforcing the country’s grossly infringing hijab or headscarf law that considers any woman not wearing her headscarf from exactly where her headline starts an attack on the Islamic society of Iran. Some of her hair showed and with no warning, the Iran morality squad detained Amini for wearing “ unsuitable attire” and parcelled her to a reduction centre that instructs women how to comply with the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code and she was supposed to be released the same night. But she wasn’t, three days after her arrest, she was declared brain dead. After this, the so-called Morality Police covered up their actions by shrugging any ounce of responsibility. It called her death "an unfortunate incident” and blamed Amini’s demise on a pre-existing heart condition which caused her to collapse. The otherwise healthy woman was brutally tortured by the so-called morality police for not wearing her Hijab or head-covering properly as evidenced by the leaked CT scan report that details the multiple bone fractures which caused her brain to slip into a haemorrhage leading to a two-day coma and stroke. This medical report clearly points to her being struck on her head multiple times for flouting Iran’s Hijab laws. The people of Iran have taken to the streets to protest the death of Mahsa Amini at the hands of the morality police that patrol the streets, verbally abusing women, detaining them and even torturing them to death. The women of Iran are at the forefront of protesting Iranian theocratic society by burning their hijabs in the streets and cutting off their hair in an act of defiance and chanting death to the dictator, the Iranian supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, while risking their lives for freedom. With several now dead, the Iranian government is cracking down on the intensifying protests with violence and tear gas to disperse crowds. All while the protests are only growing beyond the borders of the country. Furthermore, Iran has imposed restrictions on Whatsapp and Instagram to fracture communications with actual information from the ground of mass protests demanding justice for the death of Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iran’s morality police. The United States and Australia joined the protest, mainly in part due to the death of #MahsaAmini trending on all social media platforms, and with the recent overturning of Roe v Wade that took away people’s freedom to choose what to do with their bodies, the people are sick and tired of authoritative regimes dismantling the system of democracy and mercilessly killing people for their political agendas. The US has imposed sanctions on Iran’s morality police and Iran has suspended the leader of its morality police but this is just saving face. The protests are drawing comparisons with the worldwide BLM protests as the police brutality transcends borders with its repercussions felt through the hearts and minds of people who mourn and demand change after the brutal death of Mahsa Amini who dared to wear her Hijab a little bit relaxed rather than adhering to the restrictive rules of how a woman should be dressed in public. × But the Iranian President didn’t expect such an uprising as he underestimated the power of the 42.12 million women that are tired of the chokehold that ha gripped their right to exist as they please. The women of Iran are being unbelievably brave and courageous with their show of unacceptance of the oppressive and regressive laws of Iran by channelling their grief over Mahsa Amini’s death by walking opening in public without their hijab facing verbal abuse, detainment and men’s anger towards flouting the laws of the sacred Islamic society. The social media feeds of people around the world are bearing witness to the stand that Iranian women are taking in their fight for basic rights. While even celebrities like actresses like Gemma Chan, Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain and many more back the Iranian women online through personalised heartfelt posts and online resources to donate to NGOs, human rights organizations like Amnesty International to open access to the barred internet by the Iranian government. It's not a surprise that even during the burial of Mahsa Amini’s body, her father denounced any Islamic prayers by the Mullah ( Islamic Priest) over his daughter’s dead body as the oppressive and regressive policy of the Islamic faith responsible for her death. But not exactly, the Islamic faith requirement is masked by the actions of the so-called morality police who committed this crime are illiterate, violent goons who are deployed by the government to keep their women in check as they fear that if Iranian women are granted basic rights, it could set precedent and force them to grant other rights to the people of Iran. The Iranian government views Women’s Rights as an existential threat as they think women’s rights are a new conspiracy theory from the western and foreign countries. Much like the freedom of speech or the dreadful system of democracy that God forbid Iranian people to have a say in who governs their country. With bigger issues like increased living costs, food insecurity, and water rights, the Iranian government chooses to dedicate its resources to abusing and senselessly killing women on the baseless weaponization of the Islamic faith to force compulsion of wearing a Hijab or headscarf in public and if anyone dares defy their so-called rules, death through torture is the endgame. The maniacal and ludicrous nature of these Hijab laws signals the bigger problem of gender inequality that polices what women should and shouldn’t wear in public. The worst aspect of this whole ordeal is the ideology that resides in the brains of Iranian government officials like the Iranian president, Ebrahim Raisi who didn’t attend an interview with CNN Journalist, Christiane Amanpour who didn’t adhere to wearing her Hijab as she is of Iranian descent but she is not in Iran, and that why she should she be subjected to adhere to the oppressive hijab rules at all is the real question. I applaud this stand by Christiane as the Iranian president is just afraid of answering her questions and that is why he doubled down on his demented ideology that a woman should be kept in her place and not be allowed to express her personality through her clothing even if she is a world-renowned journalist. The superiority complex that the Iranian president has projected points to his revolutionary male super-ego who wants to enforce his will on the Iranian women when his focus should be on the staggering issues mounting up and chipping away at Iran’s theocracy. As he has a ridiculous amount of confidence that the protests will die down by the time he gets back from his phoney speech at the New York General Assembly. His actual feelings lie in contradiction to his superficial statement of condolences to Mahsa Amini’s family. Moreover, he had the audacity to deflect and shift focus to the US by stating “Are deaths of Americans at the hands of US police investigated?” It is really something when a President of a country can play the blame game of dirty politics while being questioned for an innocent women death in his own country whose blame is on his own head. The real question is the dystopian unfolding of real events, the death of Mahsa Amini is something straight out of an episode of Handmaid’s Tale. Even the Iranian Interior Minister has taken no responsibility and blames Mahsa Amini’s death on her “heart condition”. Anybody can easily make out that the Iranian government officials have revised from the same script and are ignoring actual medical reports that detail their role in aiding and abetting the death of Mahsa Amini, a woman who dared to relax the chokehold imposed on a woman’s right to choose. The sadistic Iranian regime is cracking down on the media coverage of the Mahsa Amini protests by arresting at least a dozen journalists three of them being women. And out of those three women journalists, one of them is Niloofar Hamedi, who broke Mahsa Amini’s story and has been arrested by Iranian authorities with even her Twitter account being suspended as well as a photojournalist named Yalda Moaiery has been arrested by the Iranian authorities during the anti-state protests while she was covering the agitated crowd on Hejab street in downtown Tehran. With Iran’s track record to silence the fourth pillar of democracy, it's not a surprise that Iran is capturing anyone and silencing their voices as the country has done in the past with the track record of arresting, detaining, murdering, disappearing or executing at least 1,000 journalists and citizen-journalists since 1979. As of today, a young Iranian woman named Hadis Najafi whose video of tying her unscarved hair back and stepping into the middle of a protest went viral has been shot dead in the country, according to official reports. As a woman, this is hitting me like an avalanche of emotions that had I been born in Iran, the state policies would have choked me to death already. It is not ironic that women in Iran are fighting for their right not to wear the hijab, while women in India are fighting for their right to wear one. Both are fighting for the same thing: her right to choose. The viral words by Namarata Zakaria cement the crux of the issue, a woman’s right to choose what she can wear and what she can’t.

Mahsa Amini’s death is a result of sadistic morality police implementing Iran’s oppressive hijab laws

After a Saudi Arabian intelligence report hinted at an imminent attack from Iran, the United States has expressed its concern and has said that it will not hesitate to respond if necessary.&nbsp;Saudi Arabia has reportedly warned the United States that as a distraction manoeuvre to shift the limelight from its ongoing Hijab protests, Iran is planning to attack the kingdom.&nbsp;

"We are concerned about the threat picture, and we remain in constant contact through military and intelligence channels with the Saudis," said the spokesperson from US'&nbsp;National Security Council, adding, "We will not hesitate to act in the defence of our interests and partners in the region."

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Joe Biden launches a fight with big oil

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Reuters reports that the latest concerns came as relations between USA and Saudi face a strain following last month's OPEC+ decision to cut oil output targets. Reportedly, this has led to a fear of rising oil prices in America and ahead of the midterm elections, and President Joe Biden is facing pressure to retaliate appropriately.&nbsp;

As senators urged the White House to freeze all cooperation with Riyadh and place limits on arms deliveries, Biden had said that there will be consequences for Saudi.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-may-attack-the-kingdom-says-saudi-in-an-intelligence-report-shared-with-the-us-530482">'Iran may attack the Kingdom,' says Saudi in an intelligence report shared with the US</a>

As per a Wall Street Journal report published on Tuesday, Saudi officials claimed that in an attempt to distract from the ongoing Hijab protests in the country, Iran is poised to launch an attack on Saudi, and Iraq's Erbil.

Riyadh has already launched multiple attacks against Iraq. Since late September, it has already attacked Northern Iraq using ballistic missiles and armed drones. The US had even thwarted one attack on Erbil.

Iranian authorities, as per the WSJ report, have blamed, Saudi Arabia, Israel and US for the unrest it is facing, claiming that these nations have instigated the demonstrations.

(With inputs from agencies)

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After a Saudi Arabian intelligence report hinted at an imminent attack from Iran, the United States has expressed its concern and has said that it will not hesitate to respond if necessary.

After a Saudi Arabian intelligence report hinted at an imminent attack from Iran, the United States has expressed its concern and has said that it will not hesitate to respond if necessary. Saudi Arabia has reportedly warned the United States that as a distraction manoeuvre to shift the limelight from its ongoing Hijab protests, Iran is planning to attack the kingdom. "We are concerned about the threat picture, and we remain in constant contact through military and intelligence channels with the Saudis," said the spokesperson from US' National Security Council, adding, "We will not hesitate to act in the defence of our interests and partners in the region." Watch | Gravitas: Joe Biden launches a fight with big oil Reuters reports that the latest concerns came as relations between USA and Saudi face a strain following last month's OPEC+ decision to cut oil output targets. Reportedly, this has led to a fear of rising oil prices in America and ahead of the midterm elections, and President Joe Biden is facing pressure to retaliate appropriately. As senators urged the White House to freeze all cooperation with Riyadh and place limits on arms deliveries, Biden had said that there will be consequences for Saudi. Also read | 'Iran may attack the Kingdom,' says Saudi in an intelligence report shared with the US As per a Wall Street Journal report published on Tuesday, Saudi officials claimed that in an attempt to distract from the ongoing Hijab protests in the country, Iran is poised to launch an attack on Saudi, and Iraq's Erbil. Riyadh has already launched multiple attacks against Iraq. Since late September, it has already attacked Northern Iraq using ballistic missiles and armed drones. The US had even thwarted one attack on Erbil. Iranian authorities, as per the WSJ report, have blamed, Saudi Arabia, Israel and US for the unrest it is facing, claiming that these nations have instigated the demonstrations. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US concerned about imminent Iranian attack on Saudi, says 'will not hesitate to act in defence'

Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi, who caused controversy by competing in an international contest without a headscarf, has returned to Iran to cheering supporters, reiterating in comments to state media she had climbed without a hijab unintentionally. Footage had shown Rekabi, 33, scaling a wall without her head covered while representing Iran at a competition in South Korea, at a time of unprecedented protests in Iran over the death in custody of a young woman detained by morality police for "inappropriate attire."

In comments to state TV upon her arrival in Tehran, Rekabi said she had returned in "full health" and apologised to "the people of Iran for the turbulence and worry that I created", her head covered by a baseball cap and a hood as she spoke. “The struggle that I had with wearing my shoes and preparing my gear made me forget about the proper hijab that I should have had, and I went to the wall and ascended," she added.

A crowd of well-wishers cheered, clapped and recorded the scene on mobile phones as she was driven away from the airport, according to footage posted on Twitter. In a statement published on her Instagram account on Tuesday, Rekabi cited poor scheduling as the reason she had competed without a headscarf, saying she had been called to climb unexpectedly. In her televised comments Rekabi, who came fourth in the competition, denied she had been unreachable for 48 hours, and said the team had returned to Iran as planned. She said she had no plan to quit the national team.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/sports/iranian-athlete-elnaz-rekabi-returns-home-amid-missing-claims-after-competing-without-hijab-526440">Iranian athlete Elnaz Rekabi returns home amid 'missing' claims after competing without hijab</a>

BBC Persian had reported on Tuesday that friends had been unable to contact her, and there were fears for her safety. Iran’s embassy in South Korea, on Twitter, denied reports about her going missing after the competition. The International Olympic Committee said it had talked to the athlete and had received assurances from the Iran's national Olympic committee (NOC) she would not face consequences.

"A joint meeting took place today between the IOC, the (international climbing federation) IFSC and the Iranian NOC, during which the IOC and the IFSC received clear assurances that Ms Rekabi will not suffer any consequences and will continue to train and compete," an IOC spokesperson said. Another joint meeting was then held between the groups and Rekabi, the spokesperson said, adding that the IOC would monitor the situation closely in the days and weeks to come.

The death last month of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the Islamic Republic's morality police, who detained her for "inappropriate attire", prompted nationwide protests during which women have removed and burned headscarves. The protests ignited by Amini's death have grown into one of the boldest challenges to the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution, though the unrest does not appear close to toppling the system.

Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi, who caused controversy by competing in an international contest without a headscarf, has returned to Iran to cheering supporters, reiterating in comments to state media she had climbed without a hijab unintentionally.

Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi, who caused controversy by competing in an international contest without a headscarf, has returned to Iran to cheering supporters, reiterating in comments to state media she had climbed without a hijab unintentionally. Footage had shown Rekabi, 33, scaling a wall without her head covered while representing Iran at a competition in South Korea, at a time of unprecedented protests in Iran over the death in custody of a young woman detained by morality police for "inappropriate attire." In comments to state TV upon her arrival in Tehran, Rekabi said she had returned in "full health" and apologised to "the people of Iran for the turbulence and worry that I created", her head covered by a baseball cap and a hood as she spoke. “The struggle that I had with wearing my shoes and preparing my gear made me forget about the proper hijab that I should have had, and I went to the wall and ascended," she added. A crowd of well-wishers cheered, clapped and recorded the scene on mobile phones as she was driven away from the airport, according to footage posted on Twitter. In a statement published on her Instagram account on Tuesday, Rekabi cited poor scheduling as the reason she had competed without a headscarf, saying she had been called to climb unexpectedly. In her televised comments Rekabi, who came fourth in the competition, denied she had been unreachable for 48 hours, and said the team had returned to Iran as planned. She said she had no plan to quit the national team. ALSO READ | Iranian athlete Elnaz Rekabi returns home amid 'missing' claims after competing without hijab BBC Persian had reported on Tuesday that friends had been unable to contact her, and there were fears for her safety. Iran’s embassy in South Korea, on Twitter, denied reports about her going missing after the competition. The International Olympic Committee said it had talked to the athlete and had received assurances from the Iran's national Olympic committee (NOC) she would not face consequences. "A joint meeting took place today between the IOC, the (international climbing federation) IFSC and the Iranian NOC, during which the IOC and the IFSC received clear assurances that Ms Rekabi will not suffer any consequences and will continue to train and compete," an IOC spokesperson said. Another joint meeting was then held between the groups and Rekabi, the spokesperson said, adding that the IOC would monitor the situation closely in the days and weeks to come. The death last month of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the Islamic Republic's morality police, who detained her for "inappropriate attire", prompted nationwide protests during which women have removed and burned headscarves. The protests ignited by Amini's death have grown into one of the boldest challenges to the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution, though the unrest does not appear close to toppling the system.

Fans cheer, clap as climber Elnaz Rekabi returns to Iran

In a show of solidarity with the Iranian women protesting for their rights, on Monday, Kim de l'Horizon, the first non-binary author to win the German book prize, shaved their head onstage as they received the prestigious award.

As per AFP, at the award ceremony in Frankfurt, l'Horizon said "This award is not just for me" adding that they think that the jury the text "to send a signal against hatred, for love and for the fight of all those people who are being suppressed because of their bodies."

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Kim de l'Horizon, first non-binary author to win the German book prize, sang, gave a moving speech on a prize as a sign for love and against hatred, shaved their hair on stage and honored the inspiring women in Iran. I am so moved!!! <a href="https://t.co/oW75Xg8r2K">https://t.co/oW75Xg8r2K</a>
— Dr. Maha El Hissy د. مها الحصي (@mahaelhissy) <a href="https://twitter.com/mahaelhissy/status/1582058763410104320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The author reportedly gave "a moving speech on a prize as a sign for love and against hatred", sang a song and then shaved their head in solidarity with the Iranian women protesting following the death of Mahsa Amini.

Watch it here:

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„Dieser Preis ist offensichtlich auch für die Frauen im <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Iran</a>“, sagt Kim de l'Horizon, Gewinner des deutschen Buchpreises gestern. "Das ist ein Zeichen gegen Hass, für die Liebe", und für den Kampf aller Menschen, die wegen ihres Körpers unterdrückt werden." <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IranProtests2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IranProtests2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/YAwKdGhbtr">pic.twitter.com/YAwKdGhbtr</a>
— Natalie Amiri (@NatalieAmiri) <a href="https://twitter.com/NatalieAmiri/status/1582237369109184513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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"With tremendous creative energy, the non-binary narrator of Kim de l'Horizon's novel... searches for a language of their own," said the jury adding that the "inspired" them.

Kim de l'Horizon won the German book prize for their debut novel titled "Blutbuch" (Blood book).&nbsp;

The German Book Prize honours the best German-language novel of the year and honours them with a 24,600 dollars or 25,000 euro prize.&nbsp;

Netizens too appreciated l'Horizon's act of solidarity:

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YES! What an amazing acceptance that was. German Book Prize 2022 goes to Kim de l'Horizon! So, so happy for this talented debut author 👏👏👏 <a href="https://twitter.com/dumontverlag?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dumontverlag</a>
— JamieLeeSearle (@JamieLeeSearle) <a href="https://twitter.com/JamieLeeSearle/status/1582054767236636672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Wow. Preisträger*in Kim de l'Horizon rasiert sich bei der Preisverleihung des <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/dbp22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#dbp22</a> die Haare ab und erklärt sich solidarisch mit den Frauen der <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IranRevolution?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IranRevolution</a>. <a href="https://t.co/FBuParewWG">pic.twitter.com/FBuParewWG</a>
— Johannes Ehsan Fischer (@jofijaan) <a href="https://twitter.com/jofijaan/status/1582053894750101505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
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JUST IN: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BNNGermany?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BNNGermany</a> Reports. 
 
Swiss author Kim de l'Horizon shaved their head on stage after winning the prestigious German Book Prize on Monday with the novel ‘Blutbuch’ (Blood Book), in a show of solidarity with the women protesting in Iran. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Germany?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Germany</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BookPrize2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BookPrize2022</a> <a href="https://t.co/y508SdHKLP">pic.twitter.com/y508SdHKLP</a>
— Gurbaksh Singh Chahal (@gchahal) <a href="https://twitter.com/gchahal/status/1582173104478253056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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(With inputs from agencies)

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In a show of solidarity with the Iranian women protesting for their rights, on Monday, Kim de l'Horizon, the first non-binary author to win the German book prize, shaved their head onstage as they received the prestigious award.

In a show of solidarity with the Iranian women protesting for their rights, on Monday, Kim de l'Horizon, the first non-binary author to win the German book prize, shaved their head onstage as they received the prestigious award. As per AFP, at the award ceremony in Frankfurt, l'Horizon said "This award is not just for me" adding that they think that the jury the text "to send a signal against hatred, for love and for the fight of all those people who are being suppressed because of their bodies." Kim de l'Horizon, first non-binary author to win the German book prize, sang, gave a moving speech on a prize as a sign for love and against hatred, shaved their hair on stage and honored the inspiring women in Iran. I am so moved!!! https://t.co/oW75Xg8r2K — Dr. Maha El Hissy د. مها الحصي (@mahaelhissy) October 17, 2022 × The author reportedly gave "a moving speech on a prize as a sign for love and against hatred", sang a song and then shaved their head in solidarity with the Iranian women protesting following the death of Mahsa Amini. Watch it here: „Dieser Preis ist offensichtlich auch für die Frauen im #Iran“, sagt Kim de l'Horizon, Gewinner des deutschen Buchpreises gestern. "Das ist ein Zeichen gegen Hass, für die Liebe", und für den Kampf aller Menschen, die wegen ihres Körpers unterdrückt werden." #IranProtests2022 pic.twitter.com/YAwKdGhbtr — Natalie Amiri (@NatalieAmiri) October 18, 2022 × "With tremendous creative energy, the non-binary narrator of Kim de l'Horizon's novel... searches for a language of their own," said the jury adding that the "inspired" them. Kim de l'Horizon won the German book prize for their debut novel titled "Blutbuch" (Blood book). The German Book Prize honours the best German-language novel of the year and honours them with a 24,600 dollars or 25,000 euro prize. Netizens too appreciated l'Horizon's act of solidarity: YES! What an amazing acceptance that was. German Book Prize 2022 goes to Kim de l'Horizon! So, so happy for this talented debut author 👏👏👏 @dumontverlag — JamieLeeSearle (@JamieLeeSearle) October 17, 2022 × Wow. Preisträger*in Kim de l'Horizon rasiert sich bei der Preisverleihung des #dbp22 die Haare ab und erklärt sich solidarisch mit den Frauen der #IranRevolution. pic.twitter.com/FBuParewWG — Johannes Ehsan Fischer (@jofijaan) October 17, 2022 × JUST IN: #BNNGermany Reports. Swiss author Kim de l'Horizon shaved their head on stage after winning the prestigious German Book Prize on Monday with the novel ‘Blutbuch’ (Blood Book), in a show of solidarity with the women protesting in Iran. #Germany #BookPrize2022 pic.twitter.com/y508SdHKLP — Gurbaksh Singh Chahal (@gchahal) October 18, 2022 × (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Watch: First non-binary recipient of German book prize shaves head in solidarity with protesting Iranian women

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere – Martin Luther King

Workers went on strike, young school girls chanted slogans and demonstration inside schoolyards, celebrities cut their hair in solidarity with protestors, clashes erupted in the streets, and protestors demanded: "death to the dictator" leaving more than 40 people dead and hundreds of injured.

This massive anti-government protest broke out in Iran after the death of 22-year-old girl Masha Amini on 16th September 2022, 3 days after she was arrested by morality police for an alleged violation of Iran's strict dress code for women which mandated loose-fitted clothes covering hair. The alleged offence for which the girl was arrested was the way she wore her headscarf and showed strands of hair.

An investigation conducted on the death of a young girl found the cause of her death a heart attack. The family of the girl claimed she was healthy and had no history of heart trouble before the arrests were made. The brother of the girl asserted screams could be heard from inside the detention centre after which an ambulance arrived and she has been rushed to hospital.

The video of the girl's arrest surfaced on social media attracting global attention over the incident. The hijab-burning peaceful protest erupted in Iran but the government responded with brute force causing a violent crackdown. The protest turned violent "clashing with the police force, demanding death to the dictator and an end to the Islamic rule". Further, the government resorted to batons, water cannons and total internet blackout to deal with the protestors but even this failed to de-escalate the anti-government and anti-hijab protests. As of Oct. 4, the Iran human rights group, an Oslo-based non-profit,&nbsp;estimates&nbsp;that Iranian authorities have killed at least 154 people since the start of the protests. &nbsp;When the world was celebrating 2nd October as the birthday of the great champion of non-violence Mahatma Gandhi, on the very same day, there was a violent crackdown on students protesting at the Sharif University of Technology.

As per the reports coming from various international agencies the situation still intensifies and does not seem to take a rest in the near future and may even further escalate. Amnesty International claimed that birdshot and metal pellets were fired at the protestors. While some of the protestors were beaten with batons. As per the Reuters reports, protesters torched several police vehicles and police stations in Tehran and other Iranian cities. The Deputy governor claimed in the province of Mazandaran, protestors damaged and blazed more than 40 government properties and injured 76 security personnel.&nbsp; Fars news agency claimed, "in accordance with the decision by the official, it has no longer been possible to access Instagram and what's app is also disrupted.

The Iran anti–hijab demonstration is been seen as the most widespread protest since the last so-called green revolution which brought millions of angry Iranians to the streets, angry at what they called blatant fraud in their right to vote. In the green revolution they raised "where is my vote?" and in the anti-hijab protest they are sloganeering "women, life, liberty".

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has characterized the protests as riots and said the protests were orchestrated by “America, the zionist regime, and the people on their payroll to undermine the government's authority.” Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian accused the united states of “shedding crocodile tears”, and added “to Iran, human rights are of inherent value –unlike those who see it (as) a tool against adversaries. &nbsp;Iran’s president apart from mentioning investigation in the death of Amini said there are “double-standards” in the west with regards to human rights.

The world has gone far ahead in discussions of human rights. Travelling from the first generation of human rights encompassing civil and political rights now we are discussing and debating about the fourth generation of human rights encompassing tech rights. The women of Iran are struggling to ensure their first-generation human rights. They are suffering to get their civic rights assured, so they can choose "what to wear and how to wear". Human rights go hand in hand with human dignity. Human rights are bound-up with human dignity. The chief justice of the supreme court of India&nbsp;JS&nbsp;Verma well observed, "human dignity is quintessence with human rights". When the state dictates something is to be worn mandatorily, without testing it on the grounds of reasonability to a section of society dignity is undoubtedly robbed.

Iran is a signatory of the ICCPR (international covenant on civil and political rights) and Iran is bound by its provisions. The very preamble of ICCPR reads as “recognition of the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world". Iran has been rampantly violating the provisions of human rights treaties and conventions.

United Nations demanded an independent and impartial investigation into the death of ms Amini. Independent experts affiliated with the United Nations examined the reports and said reports reflect Amini was severely beaten up by morality police.

The United Nation and the international community have moral duty to prevent this crime against women and stop the morality police from policing women for not wearing something. Iranian women are fighting for their rights and they are being punished for it. The international community cannot bear the cost of being a mute spectator.&nbsp;

We must empower women and expand their choices. We must respect and value the diversity of women. We must recognize that some women face additional barriers to equality because of their race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation.&nbsp;- Sheila Finestone.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere – Martin Luther King Workers went on strike, young school girls chanted slogans and demonstration inside schoolyards, celebrities cut their hair in solidarity with protestors, clashes erupted in the streets, and protestors demanded: "death to the dictator" leaving more than 40 people dead and hundreds of injured.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere – Martin Luther King Workers went on strike, young school girls chanted slogans and demonstration inside schoolyards, celebrities cut their hair in solidarity with protestors, clashes erupted in the streets, and protestors demanded: "death to the dictator" leaving more than 40 people dead and hundreds of injured. This massive anti-government protest broke out in Iran after the death of 22-year-old girl Masha Amini on 16th September 2022, 3 days after she was arrested by morality police for an alleged violation of Iran's strict dress code for women which mandated loose-fitted clothes covering hair. The alleged offence for which the girl was arrested was the way she wore her headscarf and showed strands of hair. An investigation conducted on the death of a young girl found the cause of her death a heart attack. The family of the girl claimed she was healthy and had no history of heart trouble before the arrests were made. The brother of the girl asserted screams could be heard from inside the detention centre after which an ambulance arrived and she has been rushed to hospital. The video of the girl's arrest surfaced on social media attracting global attention over the incident. The hijab-burning peaceful protest erupted in Iran but the government responded with brute force causing a violent crackdown. The protest turned violent "clashing with the police force, demanding death to the dictator and an end to the Islamic rule". Further, the government resorted to batons, water cannons and total internet blackout to deal with the protestors but even this failed to de-escalate the anti-government and anti-hijab protests. As of Oct. 4, the Iran human rights group, an Oslo-based non-profit, estimates that Iranian authorities have killed at least 154 people since the start of the protests. When the world was celebrating 2nd October as the birthday of the great champion of non-violence Mahatma Gandhi, on the very same day, there was a violent crackdown on students protesting at the Sharif University of Technology. As per the reports coming from various international agencies the situation still intensifies and does not seem to take a rest in the near future and may even further escalate. Amnesty International claimed that birdshot and metal pellets were fired at the protestors. While some of the protestors were beaten with batons. As per the Reuters reports, protesters torched several police vehicles and police stations in Tehran and other Iranian cities. The Deputy governor claimed in the province of Mazandaran, protestors damaged and blazed more than 40 government properties and injured 76 security personnel. Fars news agency claimed, "in accordance with the decision by the official, it has no longer been possible to access Instagram and what's app is also disrupted. The Iran anti–hijab demonstration is been seen as the most widespread protest since the last so-called green revolution which brought millions of angry Iranians to the streets, angry at what they called blatant fraud in their right to vote. In the green revolution they raised "where is my vote?" and in the anti-hijab protest they are sloganeering "women, life, liberty". Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has characterized the protests as riots and said the protests were orchestrated by “America, the zionist regime, and the people on their payroll to undermine the government's authority.” Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian accused the united states of “shedding crocodile tears”, and added “to Iran, human rights are of inherent value –unlike those who see it (as) a tool against adversaries. Iran’s president apart from mentioning investigation in the death of Amini said there are “double-standards” in the west with regards to human rights. The world has gone far ahead in discussions of human rights. Travelling from the first generation of human rights encompassing civil and political rights now we are discussing and debating about the fourth generation of human rights encompassing tech rights. The women of Iran are struggling to ensure their first-generation human rights. They are suffering to get their civic rights assured, so they can choose "what to wear and how to wear". Human rights go hand in hand with human dignity. Human rights are bound-up with human dignity. The chief justice of the supreme court of India JS Verma well observed, "human dignity is quintessence with human rights". When the state dictates something is to be worn mandatorily, without testing it on the grounds of reasonability to a section of society dignity is undoubtedly robbed. Iran is a signatory of the ICCPR (international covenant on civil and political rights) and Iran is bound by its provisions. The very preamble of ICCPR reads as “recognition of the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world". Iran has been rampantly violating the provisions of human rights treaties and conventions. United Nations demanded an independent and impartial investigation into the death of ms Amini. Independent experts affiliated with the United Nations examined the reports and said reports reflect Amini was severely beaten up by morality police. The United Nation and the international community have moral duty to prevent this crime against women and stop the morality police from policing women for not wearing something. Iranian women are fighting for their rights and they are being punished for it. The international community cannot bear the cost of being a mute spectator. We must empower women and expand their choices. We must respect and value the diversity of women. We must recognize that some women face additional barriers to equality because of their race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. - Sheila Finestone. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Brave women protestors of Iran deserve more support

As anti-hijab protests engulf Iran, a senior Iranian political figure has called for the re-examination of the enforcement of compulsory hijab law. Ali Larijani, a former speaker of the Iranian parliament, also said that the protests have deep political roots, and are not simply the product of US or Israeli agitation. He said that extremist actions breed extreme response.

In an interview with an Iranian news site, Larijani said, “The hijab has a cultural solution, it does not need decrees and referendums. I appreciate the services of the police force and Basij [paramilitary militia], but this burden of encouraging the hijab should not be assigned to them."

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/iran-hijab-protests-show-the-limits-of-people-power-523233">Iran hijab protests show the limits of people power</a>

“Do not doubt that when a cultural phenomenon becomes widespread, rigid response to it is not the cure. The people and young people who come to the street are our own children."

He also talked of Shah’s rule prior to 1979 saying that back then the hijab was not a compulsion and women wore it out of choice.

Larijani's comments showcase a divide that has now crept into the the political scene of the country following Mahsa Amini's death and the consequent protests across the country. The 22-year-old was arrested by Iran's so-called morality police for not wearing the hijab properly and later died in custody.

Iranian administration and supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have blamed western countries for the unrest. Authorities have also been trying to undermine the credibility of Amini's family. Protesters had called for a mass rally in Tehran on Wednesday. 
 
Tehran witnessed violence overnight besides in the Kurdish towns of Sanandaj, Saqez, Bukan and Dehgolan. Many shops also remained shut, while a demonstration led by the Tehran bar association was broken up by security forces.

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A blockade on the internet has also been imposed to stop people from gathering. The protests have now turned into an anti-government rally and efforts are being made to stop them.

Oslo-based Iran Human Rights Centre has put the death toll at over 200. Mostafa Tajzadeh, a popular reformist political was also sentenced to eight years in prison for colluding with others against the system.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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As anti-hijab protests engulf Iran, a senior Iranian political figure has called for the re-examination of the enforcement of compulsory hijab law. Ali Larijani, a former speaker of the Iranian parliament, also said that the protests have deep political roots, and are not simply the product of US or Israeli agitation.

As anti-hijab protests engulf Iran, a senior Iranian political figure has called for the re-examination of the enforcement of compulsory hijab law. Ali Larijani, a former speaker of the Iranian parliament, also said that the protests have deep political roots, and are not simply the product of US or Israeli agitation. He said that extremist actions breed extreme response. In an interview with an Iranian news site, Larijani said, “The hijab has a cultural solution, it does not need decrees and referendums. I appreciate the services of the police force and Basij [paramilitary militia], but this burden of encouraging the hijab should not be assigned to them." Also Read | Iran hijab protests show the limits of people power “Do not doubt that when a cultural phenomenon becomes widespread, rigid response to it is not the cure. The people and young people who come to the street are our own children." He also talked of Shah’s rule prior to 1979 saying that back then the hijab was not a compulsion and women wore it out of choice. Larijani's comments showcase a divide that has now crept into the the political scene of the country following Mahsa Amini's death and the consequent protests across the country. The 22-year-old was arrested by Iran's so-called morality police for not wearing the hijab properly and later died in custody. Iranian administration and supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have blamed western countries for the unrest. Authorities have also been trying to undermine the credibility of Amini's family. Protesters had called for a mass rally in Tehran on Wednesday. Tehran witnessed violence overnight besides in the Kurdish towns of Sanandaj, Saqez, Bukan and Dehgolan. Many shops also remained shut, while a demonstration led by the Tehran bar association was broken up by security forces. × A blockade on the internet has also been imposed to stop people from gathering. The protests have now turned into an anti-government rally and efforts are being made to stop them. Oslo-based Iran Human Rights Centre has put the death toll at over 200. Mostafa Tajzadeh, a popular reformist political was also sentenced to eight years in prison for colluding with others against the system. (With inputs from agencies)

Senior Iranian political figure calls for rethink of compulsory hijab law

As protests rage on in Iran following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, reports say schoolchildren are now facing the brunt of government displeasure.

The Guardian, quoting social media, tells of Iranian children being arrested from inside school premises.&nbsp;As per the report, security forces are arriving in vans missing their license plates.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Anti-Hijab Protests: Iran security forces arrest students on school premises

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Iranian authorities have also reportedly shut down schools and higher education institutes in Iranian Kurdistan on sign, which as per Guardian is "a sign that the state remains concerned about dissent after weeks of protests" over Amini's death.

Meanwhile, a Reuters report citing Norway-based Iran Human Rights claimed that since September 17, at least 185 including 19 children have died in the protests.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/its-like-a-war-out-there-irans-women-havent-been-this-angry-in-a-generation-523767" hreflang="en">'It's like a war out there.' Iran's women haven't been this angry in a generation</a>

"At least 185 people, including at least 19 children, have been killed in the nationwide protests across Iran. The highest number of killings occurred in Sistan and Baluchistan province with half the recorded number," claimed the human rights group.

Pictures and videos shared on social media show children being arrested and others showing youngsters clashing with and/or being chased by armed forces.

One video posted by a Twitter user Mamlekate, who has more than 150,000 followers show school girls being chased by security forces.

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بندرعباس یکشنبه ۱۷ مهر 🏁 
The state armed police is chasing the valiant school kids in Bandar Abbas, Iran. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IranRevolution?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IranRevolution</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MahsaAmini?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MahsaAmini</a> <a href="https://t.co/xDYhs6518C">pic.twitter.com/xDYhs6518C</a>
— مملکته (@mamlekate) <a href="https://twitter.com/mamlekate/status/1579061480984809474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Another posted by a widely-followed activist who goes by the username 1500Tasvir shows forces attacking, and arresting youngsters from educational institutions&nbsp;

However, despite the pictures and videos of vans arriving at schools, Mohammad Mahdi Kazem, the Iranian education minister has denied the reports and said that no expulsions from schools had been issued. He claims that the parents of students involved in the protests were being contacted.

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Students and schools were attacked by Islamic Republic forces. The same thing happened in many schools across the country. The video was taken at a high school.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D9%85%D9%87%D8%B3%D8%A7_%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86%DB%8C?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#مهسا_امینی</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MahsaAmini?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MahsaAmini</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IranRevolution?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IranRevolution</a> <a href="https://t.co/NhI1y6kYJM">pic.twitter.com/NhI1y6kYJM</a>
— 1500tasvir_en (@1500tasvir_en) <a href="https://twitter.com/1500tasvir_en/status/1579061176356335616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2022</a></blockquote>
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This video was taken yesterday October 8 in Mashhad. The person recording says they are beating a child like this. About twenty armed agents beat a minor in the middle of a street in broad daylight and the <a href="https://twitter.com/UNICEF?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNICEF</a> is still silent?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MahsaAmini?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MahsaAmini</a> 
 
<a href="https://t.co/3Ootp9Jt57">pic.twitter.com/3Ootp9Jt57</a>
— 1500tasvir_en (@1500tasvir_en) <a href="https://twitter.com/1500tasvir_en/status/1579018722936619008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

As protests rage on in Iran following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, reports say schoolchildren are now facing the brunt of government displeasure. The Guardian, quoting social media, tells of Iranian children being arrested from inside school premises.

As protests rage on in Iran following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, reports say schoolchildren are now facing the brunt of government displeasure. The Guardian, quoting social media, tells of Iranian children being arrested from inside school premises. As per the report, security forces are arriving in vans missing their license plates. Watch | Anti-Hijab Protests: Iran security forces arrest students on school premises Iranian authorities have also reportedly shut down schools and higher education institutes in Iranian Kurdistan on sign, which as per Guardian is "a sign that the state remains concerned about dissent after weeks of protests" over Amini's death. Meanwhile, a Reuters report citing Norway-based Iran Human Rights claimed that since September 17, at least 185 including 19 children have died in the protests. Also read | 'It's like a war out there.' Iran's women haven't been this angry in a generation "At least 185 people, including at least 19 children, have been killed in the nationwide protests across Iran. The highest number of killings occurred in Sistan and Baluchistan province with half the recorded number," claimed the human rights group. Pictures and videos shared on social media show children being arrested and others showing youngsters clashing with and/or being chased by armed forces. One video posted by a Twitter user Mamlekate, who has more than 150,000 followers show school girls being chased by security forces. بندرعباس یکشنبه ۱۷ مهر 🏁 The state armed police is chasing the valiant school kids in Bandar Abbas, Iran. #IranRevolution #MahsaAmini pic.twitter.com/xDYhs6518C — مملکته (@mamlekate) October 9, 2022 × Another posted by a widely-followed activist who goes by the username 1500Tasvir shows forces attacking, and arresting youngsters from educational institutions However, despite the pictures and videos of vans arriving at schools, Mohammad Mahdi Kazem, the Iranian education minister has denied the reports and said that no expulsions from schools had been issued. He claims that the parents of students involved in the protests were being contacted. Students and schools were attacked by Islamic Republic forces. The same thing happened in many schools across the country. The video was taken at a high school.#مهسا_امینی #MahsaAmini #IranRevolution pic.twitter.com/NhI1y6kYJM — 1500tasvir_en (@1500tasvir_en) October 9, 2022 × This video was taken yesterday October 8 in Mashhad. The person recording says they are beating a child like this. About twenty armed agents beat a minor in the middle of a street in broad daylight and the @UNICEF is still silent?#MahsaAmini pic.twitter.com/3Ootp9Jt57 — 1500tasvir_en (@1500tasvir_en) October 9, 2022 × (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Reports claim schoolchildren killed, put behind bars as situation in Iran worsens

Iran is in the third week of protests sparked by the death of a young woman who was arrested for violating the country’s strict dress code for women and died in the custody of the “morality police.” Her offence: the way she wore her headscarf showed strands of hair.

Since news of the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini broke on September 16, Iranian women in cities from one end of the country to the other have reacted with fury, taking of their hijabs and tossing them into bonfires.

Videos of the protests have flashed across social media around the world and focused fresh attention on a theocratic system of governance which controls all aspects of society and makes women second to men. The hijab-burning women’s protests were peaceful but the government responded with a violent crackdown.

By the beginning of October, one advocacy group, the Oslo-based Iran Human Rights, said 133 people had died in the crackdowns. The government put the toll at 41. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the protests were orchestrated by “America, the Zionist regime, and the people on their payroll.”

Iran experts saw the hijab demonstrations as the most widespread protests since the so-called Green Revolution which brought millions of Iranians to the streets in anger over what they claimed was blatant fraud in elections that returned the conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the presidency.

The difference between the two events is fundamental. The Green Revolution, violently suppressed, was political and led by political groups. Its slogan was “Where is my Vote?” The hijab demonstrations were spontaneous and leaderless, with anger spurred by social media postings. The hijab burners’ slogan: “Woman, Life, Liberty.”

You need to be extremely optimistic to think that the rigid dress code imposed on Iranian women since the downfall of the Shah in 1979 has a chance of returning to the skirts (mini or knee-length) that were not uncommon in Tehran in the 19060s and early 70s.

It is, I think, a safe bet that there will be little or no response (other than blaming “enemies” of Iran) to Iranian women’s desire to have a choice on how to dress.

Which raises a question worth contemplating for engaged citizens, not only in Iraq but everywhere: how effective are non-violent mass demonstrations that lack organization and come together thanks to the powers of digital technology – Facebook, twitter, WhatsApp, Telegram etc.

Early in the millennium, this way of trying to achieve change was often dubbed People Power. It had some influential critics. In an essay in the Atlantic magazine headlined Why Street Protests Don’t Work, the journalist and author Moises Naim said “aerial photos of the anti-government marches show an intimidating sea of people furiously demanding change. And yet it is surprising how little these crowds achieve.”

There have been exceptions. Enormous crowds packing the streets day after day in Tunisia and Egypt during the Arab Spring resulted in the ouster of the countries’ reviled dictators, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and Hosni Mubarak respectively.

Researchers at Harvard have noted that after decades of being a significant force for the spread of democracy, People Power has weakened. By the early 2000s, two in three protest movements demanding changes in policy succeeded, according to Erica Chenowitz, a political scientist in charge of monitoring protest movements.

But by the end of the 2010s, the Harvard data base shows, the success rate has halved to one in three. It has declined again from the beginning of the present decade.

Perhaps surprisingly, the Internet and social media played major roles in this trend. They were ideal tools to bring large numbers of people together at short notice but they also weakened the chances for achieving policy changes. Why?

Zeynep Tufekci, a sociologist and professor at the University of North Carolina, had an explanation in an opinion piece in the New York Times. Once an enthusiastic activist and supporter of mass protests, she singled out the lack of a mechanism for translating people power into policy change.

“As I studied many of these movements, I noticed common patterns,” she wrote. “The quickly sprung large movements often floundered for direction once the inevitable pushback came. They didn’t have the tools to navigate the treacherous next phase of politics because they hadn’t needed to build them to get there.”

Mass demonstrations in the past took place after a long-term process of organizing, trying to find at least a few allies in the establishment and establish a leadership structure. In the past, a large demonstration was “an exclamation mark at the end of a sentence,” she wrote.

But since the early 2000s, “a big protest has started to feel more like a sentence that begins with a question mark.”

For long, much of the media have focused on the size of protests as an indicator of the prospect that governments will pay notice and initiate change.

One of the most memorable examples that this is a flawed approach came with what one could call the mother of all protests – demonstrations in capitals from Washington and London to Paris, Berlin and Rome in the run-up to the American invasion of Iraq.

One estimate, by the French academic Dominique Reynié, said that 36 million people across the globe took part in about 3,000 protests against the impending attack. Asked to comment on the vast scale of the protests, U.S. President George W. Bush had this to say a week before the invasion:

“Size of protest – it’s like deciding, well, I’m deciding policy based on a focus group.”

Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini is not in the habit of answering reporters’ questions, but if he were, his answer would probably quite similar.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

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Iran is in the third week of protests sparked by the death of a young woman who was arrested for violating the country’s strict dress code for women and died in the custody of the “morality police.

Iran is in the third week of protests sparked by the death of a young woman who was arrested for violating the country’s strict dress code for women and died in the custody of the “morality police.” Her offence: the way she wore her headscarf showed strands of hair. Since news of the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini broke on September 16, Iranian women in cities from one end of the country to the other have reacted with fury, taking of their hijabs and tossing them into bonfires. Videos of the protests have flashed across social media around the world and focused fresh attention on a theocratic system of governance which controls all aspects of society and makes women second to men. The hijab-burning women’s protests were peaceful but the government responded with a violent crackdown. By the beginning of October, one advocacy group, the Oslo-based Iran Human Rights, said 133 people had died in the crackdowns. The government put the toll at 41. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the protests were orchestrated by “America, the Zionist regime, and the people on their payroll.” Iran experts saw the hijab demonstrations as the most widespread protests since the so-called Green Revolution which brought millions of Iranians to the streets in anger over what they claimed was blatant fraud in elections that returned the conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the presidency. The difference between the two events is fundamental. The Green Revolution, violently suppressed, was political and led by political groups. Its slogan was “Where is my Vote?” The hijab demonstrations were spontaneous and leaderless, with anger spurred by social media postings. The hijab burners’ slogan: “Woman, Life, Liberty.” You need to be extremely optimistic to think that the rigid dress code imposed on Iranian women since the downfall of the Shah in 1979 has a chance of returning to the skirts (mini or knee-length) that were not uncommon in Tehran in the 19060s and early 70s. It is, I think, a safe bet that there will be little or no response (other than blaming “enemies” of Iran) to Iranian women’s desire to have a choice on how to dress. Which raises a question worth contemplating for engaged citizens, not only in Iraq but everywhere: how effective are non-violent mass demonstrations that lack organization and come together thanks to the powers of digital technology – Facebook, twitter, WhatsApp, Telegram etc. Early in the millennium, this way of trying to achieve change was often dubbed People Power. It had some influential critics. In an essay in the Atlantic magazine headlined Why Street Protests Don’t Work, the journalist and author Moises Naim said “aerial photos of the anti-government marches show an intimidating sea of people furiously demanding change. And yet it is surprising how little these crowds achieve.” There have been exceptions. Enormous crowds packing the streets day after day in Tunisia and Egypt during the Arab Spring resulted in the ouster of the countries’ reviled dictators, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and Hosni Mubarak respectively. Researchers at Harvard have noted that after decades of being a significant force for the spread of democracy, People Power has weakened. By the early 2000s, two in three protest movements demanding changes in policy succeeded, according to Erica Chenowitz, a political scientist in charge of monitoring protest movements. But by the end of the 2010s, the Harvard data base shows, the success rate has halved to one in three. It has declined again from the beginning of the present decade. Perhaps surprisingly, the Internet and social media played major roles in this trend. They were ideal tools to bring large numbers of people together at short notice but they also weakened the chances for achieving policy changes. Why? Zeynep Tufekci, a sociologist and professor at the University of North Carolina, had an explanation in an opinion piece in the New York Times. Once an enthusiastic activist and supporter of mass protests, she singled out the lack of a mechanism for translating people power into policy change. “As I studied many of these movements, I noticed common patterns,” she wrote. “The quickly sprung large movements often floundered for direction once the inevitable pushback came. They didn’t have the tools to navigate the treacherous next phase of politics because they hadn’t needed to build them to get there.” Mass demonstrations in the past took place after a long-term process of organizing, trying to find at least a few allies in the establishment and establish a leadership structure. In the past, a large demonstration was “an exclamation mark at the end of a sentence,” she wrote. But since the early 2000s, “a big protest has started to feel more like a sentence that begins with a question mark.” For long, much of the media have focused on the size of protests as an indicator of the prospect that governments will pay notice and initiate change. One of the most memorable examples that this is a flawed approach came with what one could call the mother of all protests – demonstrations in capitals from Washington and London to Paris, Berlin and Rome in the run-up to the American invasion of Iraq. One estimate, by the French academic Dominique Reynié, said that 36 million people across the globe took part in about 3,000 protests against the impending attack. Asked to comment on the vast scale of the protests, U.S. President George W. Bush had this to say a week before the invasion: “Size of protest – it’s like deciding, well, I’m deciding policy based on a focus group.” Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini is not in the habit of answering reporters’ questions, but if he were, his answer would probably quite similar. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)