The state-sanctioned fact-finding committee in Iran tried to downplay the poisoning of schoolgirls in recent months. According to the report by the Iran News Update (INU) on Saturday (June 17), the committee claimed that the poisoning of schoolgirls was merely a result of “mischief”.

The state-sanctioned fact-finding committee in Iran tried to downplay the poisoning of schoolgirls in recent months. According to the report by the Iran News Update (INU) on Saturday (June 17), the committee claimed that the poisoning of schoolgirls was merely a result of “mischief”. Hamidreza Kazemi, a member of parliament and head of the fact-finding committee told the ISNA news agency that numerous meetings had taken place with relevant agencies to probe the incidents of poisonings. Evidence pointed to deliberate acts of mischief, with individuals using commercially available stink bombs, Kazemi said. Despite initially claiming a conspiracy theory, the head of the committee said a comprehensive probe identified individuals responsible for orchestrating the systematic poisoning of schoolgirls. The report said that intelligence and security agencies apprehended these culprits, but the regime did not disclose any information about them. Since late November last year, many schools, mostly for girls, have been affected by sudden poisoning incidents from gases or toxic substances. This mysterious phenomenon has shaken the country for months. Minister contradicts claims of committee The INU report said that Iran's Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi contradicted the claims of the fact-finding committee. During a recent press conference, Interior Minister Vahidi said that no arrests were made and refuted the claim that no students had been paralysed as a result. Vahidi highlighted the absence of specific complaints regarding toxic substances, attributing a significant portion of the issue to the creation of a psychological atmosphere among students and their families. Critics see poisoning an act of revenge against Mahsa Amini protests Critics of the regime see the poisonings as an act of revenge against the protests triggered by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was detained by the police for violating Iran's dress code. Female students played a prominent role during the protests, seeking justice and a free and democratic country. 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 schoolgirls poisoning: State-sanctioned committee ‘downplaying’ attacks, says report

The grave of Mahsa Amini, the young woman in Iran whose death sparked nationwide protests, has been vandalised, according to the family's lawyer and activists. Mahsa Amini (22) was detained by Iran's morality police for not properly following the dress code.&nbsp;She&nbsp;died while in police custody last year.

The protests, which began after her death, were widespread in Iran and lasted for months. Protesters in some cases even called for the downfall of Iran's clerical regime that has ruled the nation since the 1979 revolution. The protests have weakened in amplitude over the last months but haven't totally stopped.

Watch | Iran executes three men who participated in 2022 protests for 'war against god'

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Amini, who had been visiting Tehran with her family, is buried in her hometown of Saqez in Iran's Kurdistan province, with activists alleging the authorities are determined to prevent any public rallying around it.

France-based Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) said that the grave was attacked on the morning of May 21.

Images on social media, reportedly from the Instagram account of Mahsa's brother Ashkan, depicted that the glass protecting a portrait of Amini at the head of the tomb had shattered.

"Sadly, on Sunday morning, people who are already known to us, and who have done the same things in the past, attacked the grave of Zhina Mahsa Amini," the family's lawyer Saleh Nikbakht said in a statement published by KHRN.

It was not specified who these individuals were. But the lawyer said that the authorities had previously intervened in order to prevent the construction of a protective canopy over the grave.

<h2>Defiant words from Mahsa's brother</h2>

"So the glass of your tombstone also bothers them? Let them break it a thousand times, we will make it again, let's see who gets tired," Ashkan Amini said in his social media post.

Family and supporters of Mahsa Amini said she was killed by a blow to the head when she was in police custody. Authorities claim that she died due to a heart attack that was brought on by previous ill health.

Activists accuse the authorities of suppressing the protests with a crackdown that has left over 500 dead, according to Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights.

Iran has also hanged seven men in protest-related cases in what campaigners describe as a deliberate policy to create a climate of fear through capital punishment.

Amnesty International warned this week another seven men are at risk of being executed in connection with the protests.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The grave of Mahsa Amini, the young woman in Iran whose death sparked nationwide protests, has been vandalised, according to the family's lawyer and activists. Mahsa Amini (22) was detained by Iran's morality police for not properly following the dress code.

The grave of Mahsa Amini, the young woman in Iran whose death sparked nationwide protests, has been vandalised, according to the family's lawyer and activists. Mahsa Amini (22) was detained by Iran's morality police for not properly following the dress code. She died while in police custody last year. The protests, which began after her death, were widespread in Iran and lasted for months. Protesters in some cases even called for the downfall of Iran's clerical regime that has ruled the nation since the 1979 revolution. The protests have weakened in amplitude over the last months but haven't totally stopped. Watch | Iran executes three men who participated in 2022 protests for 'war against god' × Amini, who had been visiting Tehran with her family, is buried in her hometown of Saqez in Iran's Kurdistan province, with activists alleging the authorities are determined to prevent any public rallying around it. France-based Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) said that the grave was attacked on the morning of May 21. Images on social media, reportedly from the Instagram account of Mahsa's brother Ashkan, depicted that the glass protecting a portrait of Amini at the head of the tomb had shattered. "Sadly, on Sunday morning, people who are already known to us, and who have done the same things in the past, attacked the grave of Zhina Mahsa Amini," the family's lawyer Saleh Nikbakht said in a statement published by KHRN. It was not specified who these individuals were. But the lawyer said that the authorities had previously intervened in order to prevent the construction of a protective canopy over the grave. Defiant words from Mahsa's brother "So the glass of your tombstone also bothers them? Let them break it a thousand times, we will make it again, let's see who gets tired," Ashkan Amini said in his social media post. Family and supporters of Mahsa Amini said she was killed by a blow to the head when she was in police custody. Authorities claim that she died due to a heart attack that was brought on by previous ill health. Activists accuse the authorities of suppressing the protests with a crackdown that has left over 500 dead, according to Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights. Iran has also hanged seven men in protest-related cases in what campaigners describe as a deliberate policy to create a climate of fear through capital punishment. Amnesty International warned this week another seven men are at risk of being executed in connection with the protests. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Iran: Mahsa Amini's grave vandalised, says family lawyer

A mysterious phenomenon that started last year in Iran is continuing. On Saturday, at least 60 schoolgirls were poisoned in the town of Haftkel in the oil-rich southwestern province of Khuzestan, local media reports informed.

A mysterious phenomenon that started last year in Iran is continuing. On Saturday, at least 60 schoolgirls were poisoned in the town of Haftkel in the oil-rich southwestern province of Khuzestan, local media reports informed. A number of school-going girls were poisoned in "five schools in Ardabil in the northwest". The medical authorities said most victims showed symptoms of anxiety, shortness of breath and headaches. Similarly in the northwestern town of Urmia, dozens of schoolgirls were admitted to the hospital on Saturday after feeling sick, according to an AFP report. An official count provided by authorities states that as of March 7, as many as 5,000 students have been affected by such poisonings across 230 establishments, in 25 of the country's 31 provinces. A final report by a national fact-finding committee to probe the matter is expected to be released in the upcoming weeks, informed MP Hamidreza Kazemi and the head of the panel. "We have received reports from various bodies and we are studying the issue in order to present our conclusion to parliament," said Kazemi. WATCH | Iranian girls 'poisoned': Police pin blame on stink bombs and hysteria × Hysteria, mass psychosis or conspiracy? Notably, the Iranian police earlier claimed that schoolgirls may have been prone to hysteria and victim of copycat pranks, involving 'stink bombs', in the wave of poison-induced sicknesses. Saeed Montazer Al-Mahdi, the Iranian police spokesman said the 'majority' of the poisonings were 'not real' and merely caused by psychological factors that triggered the paranoia of frenzied students. ALSO READ | Psychosis, hysteria and pranks: Iranian police comes out with explanation for schoolgirl poisonings The detractors of the current regime argue that the poisonings could be an attempt to force the closure of girls' schools, especially in the backdrop of the Mahsa Amini death protests that started in September last year. The version of 'fear and psychosis' by the Iranian police has been backed by a recent report published in Psychology Today. Notably, the first case of schoolgirls poisoning was reported in November last year when as many as 18 girls were admitted to a hospital in the city of Qom. Read more: Mystery of the 'poisoned' schoolgirls in Iran: A case of mass psychogenic illness? Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei has termed the poisoning of girl students as an "unforgivable" crime. "Authorities should seriously pursue the issue of students' poisoning. This is an unforgivable crime... the perpetrators of this crime should be severely punished," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was quoted as saying by state media. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Mysterious schoolgirl poisonings continue across Iran, puzzling authorities

The anti-regime protests in Iran, initially flamed in the Kurdish regions and later spread across the nation, have crossed more than a 100 days. Since the 1979 Islamic revolution, these have been the longest-running protests the country has witnessed. Even though the events have stunned the administration, it has brought huge loss to human life in Iran.&nbsp;

People across societies are participating in the unique protests, and women are leading the way under the slogan, 'Women, Life, Freedom'. But, according to the Human Rights Activists' news agency (HRANA), more than 500 protesters, including 69 children, have been killed and two executed.&nbsp;

People have taken immutable steps leading to their arrest, exile, and even death sentences.

Also Read|&nbsp;<a href="www.wionews.com/world/iran-tests-new-attack-drones-in-ongoing-wargames-548440">Iran tests new attack drones in ongoing wargames</a>

The recent death sentence of Iranian author and illustrator, Mehdi Bahman, has gripped the nation in fear. Bahman's death sentence followed his interview with an Israeli television channel. Authorities arrested him soon after the interview&nbsp;in&nbsp;which he had criticised the regime in Tehran, imposition of Islamic law, and called for peace between Israel and Iran. Apart from Bahman, Iran has already awarded death sentence&nbsp;to 11 protesters and has detained more than a hundred amid the protests.

In his works, Bahman talks about religious co-existence. He has worked with Shia cleric Masoumi Tehrani for years to create artworks from various religions. Shortly after Bahman, Iran administration also arrested Tehrani.

Watch |&nbsp;Rare Fatah rally in Hamas' Gaza; Al-Katiba Square turns into sea of yellow

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While the Iran administration blames Iran International, a Persian language news channel, for sparking nationwide protests, the media outlet has denied all allegations. Iran International identifies itself as 'an independent news portal with no political affiliation'.

The 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish Mahsa Amini's death during custody in September flared protests across Iran. She was in detention for breaching the strict dress code for Iranian women.&nbsp;

Majidreza Rahnavard, 23, was sentenced by a court in Mashhad for using a knife to murder two members of the security forces. On December 12, the Iran government publicly executed him from a crane. Many people have tried to kill themselves after suffering gruesome torture in detention.&nbsp;

However, despite the horror that currently grips Iran, the protesters continue their fight against the government. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

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The anti-regime protests in Iran, initially flamed in the Kurdish regions and later spread across the nation, have crossed more than a 100 days. Since the 1979 Islamic revolution, these have been the longest-running protests the country has witnessed.

The anti-regime protests in Iran, initially flamed in the Kurdish regions and later spread across the nation, have crossed more than a 100 days. Since the 1979 Islamic revolution, these have been the longest-running protests the country has witnessed. Even though the events have stunned the administration, it has brought huge loss to human life in Iran. People across societies are participating in the unique protests, and women are leading the way under the slogan, 'Women, Life, Freedom'. But, according to the Human Rights Activists' news agency (HRANA), more than 500 protesters, including 69 children, have been killed and two executed. People have taken immutable steps leading to their arrest, exile, and even death sentences. Also Read| Iran tests new attack drones in ongoing wargames The recent death sentence of Iranian author and illustrator, Mehdi Bahman, has gripped the nation in fear. Bahman's death sentence followed his interview with an Israeli television channel. Authorities arrested him soon after the interview in which he had criticised the regime in Tehran, imposition of Islamic law, and called for peace between Israel and Iran. Apart from Bahman, Iran has already awarded death sentence to 11 protesters and has detained more than a hundred amid the protests. In his works, Bahman talks about religious co-existence. He has worked with Shia cleric Masoumi Tehrani for years to create artworks from various religions. Shortly after Bahman, Iran administration also arrested Tehrani. Watch | Rare Fatah rally in Hamas' Gaza; Al-Katiba Square turns into sea of yellow While the Iran administration blames Iran International, a Persian language news channel, for sparking nationwide protests, the media outlet has denied all allegations. Iran International identifies itself as 'an independent news portal with no political affiliation'. The 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish Mahsa Amini's death during custody in September flared protests across Iran. She was in detention for breaching the strict dress code for Iranian women. Majidreza Rahnavard, 23, was sentenced by a court in Mashhad for using a knife to murder two members of the security forces. On December 12, the Iran government publicly executed him from a crane. Many people have tried to kill themselves after suffering gruesome torture in detention. However, despite the horror that currently grips Iran, the protesters continue their fight against the government. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Iran: Author sentenced to death amid renewed nationwide protests

While the western world is in a celebratory mood as the holiday season approaches, the ordinary people of Iran are fearful that a slew of executions could take place against those who dared to criticise the Iranian government.

While the western world is in a celebratory mood as the holiday season approaches, the ordinary people of Iran are fearful that a slew of executions could take place against those who dared to criticise the Iranian government. According to a CNN report, Iran is planning to execute at least 43 people, including high-profile footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani. There are fears that Nasr-Azadani could be executed at the Shahid Alikhani square in the historic Iranian city of Isfahan. Nasr-Azadani has been accused of killing three security officers by the judiciary and is facing extreme punishment. WATCH | WION Fineprint | Iran to execute footballer × Mohsen Shekari became the first protester to be executed earlier this month after he was convicted of wounding a paramilitary force member “Mohsen Shekari, a rioter who blocked Sattar Khan Street in Tehran on September 25 and wounded one of the security guards with a machete, was executed this morning," the judiciary's Mizan Online website said. Shekari appealed the ruling in the Supreme Court, but the top court upheld it on November 20. The judiciary said that Shekari drew his weapon "with the intention of killing, causing terror and disturbing the order and security of society". Read more: Iran carries out first execution over anti-regime protests sparked by Mahsa Amini’s death Days after Shekari's execution, another Iranian named Majid Reza Rahnavard was executed by hanging in public for "waging a war against God". "Majid Reza Rahnavard was hanged in public in (the holy Shi'ite city of) Mashahd this morning ... he was sentenced to death for 'waging war against God' after stabbing to death two members of security forces," Ever since the death of a 22-year-old Kurdish woman named Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iran's morality police in September, the country has plunged into a sea of demonstrations. Read more: Iran executes second protester in less than a week; rights group claims 450 killed in protests (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Iranians fearful executions will increase as West remains preoccupied with the holiday season

According to reports, over 450 protesters including 63 children have died so far since the nationwide protests broke out in Iran on September 16 this year. The protesters are demanding freedom and equality for themselves while asking the death sentence for the oppressors.

Report: Over 450 protesters killed in Iran, 63 children lost lives

Iranian film star Mitra Hajjar was arrested at her home Saturday, the reformist newspaper Shargh reported.&nbsp;"Mitra Hajjar, a film and television actor, was arrested today after a search of her apartment," said Mehdi Koohian, part of a group monitoring arrested artists, Shargh reported.

Protests have swept Iran since the September 16 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian of Kurdish origin, who had been&nbsp;arrested by the morality police for an alleged breach of the Islamic republic's dress code for women.

Thousands of people have been arrested in connection with the protests, including leading figures from the arts, politics and sports.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/john-wick-star-lance-reddick-to-return-for-ana-de-armas-led-spinoff-ballerina-539710">'John Wick' star Lance Reddick to return for Ana de Armas-led spinoff 'Ballerina'</a>

Last month, Iran arrested actor Hengameh Ghaziani, who expressed solidarity with the protest movement and removed her headscarf in public in an apparent act of defiance, which she filmed and posted on Instagram.

Ghaziani has since been released on bail, according to the Tasnim agency.

Iranian film star Mitra Hajjar was arrested at her home Saturday, the reformist newspaper Shargh reported. "Mitra Hajjar, a film and television actor, was arrested today after a search of her apartment," said Mehdi Koohian, part of a group monitoring arrested artists, Shargh reported.

Iranian film star Mitra Hajjar was arrested at her home Saturday, the reformist newspaper Shargh reported. "Mitra Hajjar, a film and television actor, was arrested today after a search of her apartment," said Mehdi Koohian, part of a group monitoring arrested artists, Shargh reported. Protests have swept Iran since the September 16 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian of Kurdish origin, who had been arrested by the morality police for an alleged breach of the Islamic republic's dress code for women. Thousands of people have been arrested in connection with the protests, including leading figures from the arts, politics and sports. Also read: 'John Wick' star Lance Reddick to return for Ana de Armas-led spinoff 'Ballerina' Last month, Iran arrested actor Hengameh Ghaziani, who expressed solidarity with the protest movement and removed her headscarf in public in an apparent act of defiance, which she filmed and posted on Instagram. Ghaziani has since been released on bail, according to the Tasnim agency.

Iranian film and television actress Mitra Hajjar arrested after home search amid unrest

Iranian filmmaker Reza Dormishian has been barred by Tehran from travelling to the International Film Festival of India in Goa, where 'A Minor', a film he produced was due to play in the competition.

Dormishian is the latest member of Iran's film community to be sanctioned by the Iranian regime for expressing anti-government views. He had been invited by IFFI to accompany the film that was directed by Dariush Mehrjui. The Iranian authorities did not grant him a permit to leave Iran. The film played on Thursday and Friday this past week.

'A Minor' tells a story of a woman who is torn between her free-thinking daughter, who wants to study music, and her more conservative husband.

When Dormishian went to the airport, his passport was confiscated. "He was referred to a court of law for prosecution," sources close to the filmmaker informed 'Variety'. It is not clear if Dormishian was arrested or what charges he must answer.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/wait-what-the-simpsons-predicted-elon-musks-twitter-takeover-heres-the-truth-537938">Did 'The Simpsons' predict Elon Musk's Twitter takeover? Here's&nbsp;what&nbsp;we&nbsp;know</a>

The actions against Dormishian are, however, understood to be directly connected to his social media commentary about the Iranian government over the last few weeks. "Throughout the nationwide protests in Iran, Dormishian shared various posts on his Instagram account to show support for the significant developments," 'Variety' reported, quoting sources close to the director-producer.

Iran is in turmoil following the death in September of a 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in police custody. She had been arrested in Tehran because she allegedly breached the Islamic Republic's strict dress code for women.

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Iranian filmmaker Reza Dormishian has been barred by Tehran from travelling to the International Film Festival of India in Goa, where 'A Minor', a film he produced was due to play in the competition.

Iranian filmmaker Reza Dormishian has been barred by Tehran from travelling to the International Film Festival of India in Goa, where 'A Minor', a film he produced was due to play in the competition. Dormishian is the latest member of Iran's film community to be sanctioned by the Iranian regime for expressing anti-government views. He had been invited by IFFI to accompany the film that was directed by Dariush Mehrjui. The Iranian authorities did not grant him a permit to leave Iran. The film played on Thursday and Friday this past week. 'A Minor' tells a story of a woman who is torn between her free-thinking daughter, who wants to study music, and her more conservative husband. When Dormishian went to the airport, his passport was confiscated. "He was referred to a court of law for prosecution," sources close to the filmmaker informed 'Variety'. It is not clear if Dormishian was arrested or what charges he must answer. Also read: Did 'The Simpsons' predict Elon Musk's Twitter takeover? Here's what we know The actions against Dormishian are, however, understood to be directly connected to his social media commentary about the Iranian government over the last few weeks. "Throughout the nationwide protests in Iran, Dormishian shared various posts on his Instagram account to show support for the significant developments," 'Variety' reported, quoting sources close to the director-producer. Iran is in turmoil following the death in September of a 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in police custody. She had been arrested in Tehran because she allegedly breached the Islamic Republic's strict dress code for women. 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.

Tehran bars Iranian filmmaker from going to IFFI for backing protests

The family of an Iranian rapper detained for supporting protests over Mahsa Amini's death said his life was at risk after he went on trial behind closed doors on Saturday.&nbsp;Iran has intensified a crackdown on the protests sparked by the September 16 death of Amini after her arrest in Tehran for allegedly breaching the country's strict dress code for women.

Toomaj Salehi, well known on Iran's rap scene, was arrested late last month after denouncing the regime and showing support for the protests, human rights groups said.

"Dissident rapper Toomaj Salehi had the first day of his so-called 'trial' today in Tehran without a lawyer of his choice," the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran said on Twitter.

His family tweeted that his "life is at serious risk right now" as he faced charges of "enmity against God" and "corruption on earth" -- sharia-related charges that are capital crimes in the Islamic republic.

Salehi had disappeared at the end of October before appearing in a video published on November 2 by Iran's state-run media.&nbsp;The video claimed to show the first images of Salehi after his arrest.

It depicted a tattooed man in a sleeveless black T-shirt sitting on the ground, wearing a blindfold and looking bloodied and bruised.

The man says: "I am Toomaj Salehi. I said I made a mistake. I said... that you should run. I didn't mean you."

Activists condemned the recording as a forced confession extracted under duress.

Salehi is one of a number of prominent figures to be arrested in a mass crackdown that has seen dozens of journalists, lawyers, civil society and cultural figures arrested.

His detention came shortly after he gave an interview highly critical of the regime to the Canadian Broadcasting Cooperation.

"You are dealing with a mafia that is ready to kill the entire nation... in order to keep its power, money and weapons," Salehi had said in the interview.

Iranian state media claim Salehi was arrested while trying to cross one of the country's western borders, but his family have denied this saying he was in the southwestern province of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari at the time.

The family of an Iranian rapper detained for supporting protests over Mahsa Amini's death said his life was at risk after he went on trial behind closed doors on Saturday.

The family of an Iranian rapper detained for supporting protests over Mahsa Amini's death said his life was at risk after he went on trial behind closed doors on Saturday. Iran has intensified a crackdown on the protests sparked by the September 16 death of Amini after her arrest in Tehran for allegedly breaching the country's strict dress code for women. Toomaj Salehi, well known on Iran's rap scene, was arrested late last month after denouncing the regime and showing support for the protests, human rights groups said. "Dissident rapper Toomaj Salehi had the first day of his so-called 'trial' today in Tehran without a lawyer of his choice," the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran said on Twitter. His family tweeted that his "life is at serious risk right now" as he faced charges of "enmity against God" and "corruption on earth" -- sharia-related charges that are capital crimes in the Islamic republic. Salehi had disappeared at the end of October before appearing in a video published on November 2 by Iran's state-run media. The video claimed to show the first images of Salehi after his arrest. It depicted a tattooed man in a sleeveless black T-shirt sitting on the ground, wearing a blindfold and looking bloodied and bruised. The man says: "I am Toomaj Salehi. I said I made a mistake. I said... that you should run. I didn't mean you." Activists condemned the recording as a forced confession extracted under duress. Salehi is one of a number of prominent figures to be arrested in a mass crackdown that has seen dozens of journalists, lawyers, civil society and cultural figures arrested. His detention came shortly after he gave an interview highly critical of the regime to the Canadian Broadcasting Cooperation. "You are dealing with a mafia that is ready to kill the entire nation... in order to keep its power, money and weapons," Salehi had said in the interview. Iranian state media claim Salehi was arrested while trying to cross one of the country's western borders, but his family have denied this saying he was in the southwestern province of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari at the time.

Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi arrested for supporting protests, risks death penalty: Family

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

Taraneh Alidoost, an Iranian actress best known for Asghar Farhadi's 2016 Oscar-winning drama film 'The Salesman', has aligned herself with ongoing anti-government Mahsa Amini protests to end the mandatory Hijab law in the country. that began in September this year. She shared a photo of herself without a headscarf on Instagram in solidarity with the demonstrators. She can be seen holding a sign that, as per the BBC, reads, "Woman, Life, Freedom" in Kurdish. The message is presumably in Kurdish and not her native Persian, because of the death of a 22-year-old woman called Mahsa Amini, who was allegedly a victim of police brutality after she was arrested by religious morality police called Guidance Patrol for wearing an 'improper' hijab.&nbsp;

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The protests kicked off on September 16, 2022 when Taraneh died in a hospital in the country's capital Tehran. While the authorities claimed that she died due to a coma induced by a heart attack, eyewitnesses, which included women who were detained with her, said she was beaten by the law enforcement personnel.

Her death instigated a wave of protests by Iranian women on a scale not seen since at least 2009. Many women publicly removed their hijab and cut their hair. In the resulting crackdown, more than 300 demonstrators have been killed as per the non-profit Iran Human Rights.

Since the fall of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1979 during the Iranian Revolution, Iran has been an Islamic Republic, with elements of both Shia Islamic theocracy and democracy. Its laws are completely in accordance with Islamic law (Sharia). Its highest religious and political authority is called the Supreme Leader of Iran, a title currently held by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei), who succeeded Ruhollah Khomeini.

'The Salesman' was bestowed with an Oscar in the 2017 ceremony. The director Farhadi, whose 2011 film 'A Separation' also won an Oscar, becoming the first Iranian film to do so, notably did not attend the event due to the then-president Donald Trump's executive order barring people belonging to several Muslim-majority countries from entering the country, also called the 'Muslim Ban' by critics.

 
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Taraneh Alidoost, an Iranian actress best known for Asghar Farhadi's 2016 Oscar-winning drama film 'The Salesman', has aligned herself with ongoing anti-government Mahsa Amini protests to end the mandatory Hijab law in the country.

Taraneh Alidoost, an Iranian actress best known for Asghar Farhadi's 2016 Oscar-winning drama film 'The Salesman', has aligned herself with ongoing anti-government Mahsa Amini protests to end the mandatory Hijab law in the country. that began in September this year. She shared a photo of herself without a headscarf on Instagram in solidarity with the demonstrators. She can be seen holding a sign that, as per the BBC, reads, "Woman, Life, Freedom" in Kurdish. The message is presumably in Kurdish and not her native Persian, because of the death of a 22-year-old woman called Mahsa Amini, who was allegedly a victim of police brutality after she was arrested by religious morality police called Guidance Patrol for wearing an 'improper' hijab. The protests kicked off on September 16, 2022 when Taraneh died in a hospital in the country's capital Tehran. While the authorities claimed that she died due to a coma induced by a heart attack, eyewitnesses, which included women who were detained with her, said she was beaten by the law enforcement personnel. Her death instigated a wave of protests by Iranian women on a scale not seen since at least 2009. Many women publicly removed their hijab and cut their hair. In the resulting crackdown, more than 300 demonstrators have been killed as per the non-profit Iran Human Rights. Since the fall of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1979 during the Iranian Revolution, Iran has been an Islamic Republic, with elements of both Shia Islamic theocracy and democracy. Its laws are completely in accordance with Islamic law (Sharia). Its highest religious and political authority is called the Supreme Leader of Iran, a title currently held by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei), who succeeded Ruhollah Khomeini. 'The Salesman' was bestowed with an Oscar in the 2017 ceremony. The director Farhadi, whose 2011 film 'A Separation' also won an Oscar, becoming the first Iranian film to do so, notably did not attend the event due to the then-president Donald Trump's executive order barring people belonging to several Muslim-majority countries from entering the country, also called the 'Muslim Ban' by critics.

Taraneh Alidoost, Iranian star of Oscar-winning film 'The Salesman', poses without headscarf

A fire tore through Tehran's Evin prison and claimed lives of eight inmates, the Iranian judiciary confirmed the news, increasing the death toll, and inflaming emotions one month after Mahsa Amini's death-related protests.

Human rights organisations expressed their concerns about the event and said that the actual death toll would be much higher.&nbsp;

A day prior, it was stated that four Evin prison inmates had died from smoke inhalation. The judiciary's website Mizan Online reported on Monday that four later injured victims had died.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-the-fateh-missile-that-iran-is-rumored-to-deliver-to-russia-526073">Also read |&nbsp;What is the Fateh missile that Iran is rumored to deliver to Russia?</a>

In a video released on social media, gunshots and explosions can be heard during the dramatic fire from the building.&nbsp;

The government has accused "thugs" of torching a prison clothing depot and reported clashes between inmates and guards who intervened to stop the fight, AFP reported.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Iran Evin Prison Fire: Eight people injured, governor of Tehran says peace has been restored

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The Evin prison, known for mistreating political prisoners and housing thousands of people imprisoned on criminal accusations, received hundreds of detained protesters.

While Mizan reported that those killed had been found guilty of robbery, the official INRA news agency said that the clash had nothing to do with the recent clashes in the country.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/one-month-of-anger-in-iran-over-mahsa-aminis-death-timeline-525773">Also read |&nbsp;One month of anger in Iran over Mahsa Amini's death: Timeline</a>

Iran Human Rights (IHR) demands an international probe with UN backing.

According to IHR, families of inmates gathered outside Evin on Sunday to learn about their loved ones.

Activists were further perplexed when state television initially reported a death toll of 40 but later revised it to four

Recently, US President Joe Biden supported the protesters on Sunday (October 16). After this, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi accused him of "inciting chaos."

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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A fire tore through Tehran's Evin prison and claimed lives of eight inmates, the Iranian judiciary confirmed the news, increasing the death toll, and inflaming emotions one month after Mahsa Amini's death-related protests.

A fire tore through Tehran's Evin prison and claimed lives of eight inmates, the Iranian judiciary confirmed the news, increasing the death toll, and inflaming emotions one month after Mahsa Amini's death-related protests. Human rights organisations expressed their concerns about the event and said that the actual death toll would be much higher. A day prior, it was stated that four Evin prison inmates had died from smoke inhalation. The judiciary's website Mizan Online reported on Monday that four later injured victims had died. Also read | What is the Fateh missile that Iran is rumored to deliver to Russia? In a video released on social media, gunshots and explosions can be heard during the dramatic fire from the building. The government has accused "thugs" of torching a prison clothing depot and reported clashes between inmates and guards who intervened to stop the fight, AFP reported. Watch | Iran Evin Prison Fire: Eight people injured, governor of Tehran says peace has been restored The Evin prison, known for mistreating political prisoners and housing thousands of people imprisoned on criminal accusations, received hundreds of detained protesters. While Mizan reported that those killed had been found guilty of robbery, the official INRA news agency said that the clash had nothing to do with the recent clashes in the country. Also read | One month of anger in Iran over Mahsa Amini's death: Timeline Iran Human Rights (IHR) demands an international probe with UN backing. According to IHR, families of inmates gathered outside Evin on Sunday to learn about their loved ones. Activists were further perplexed when state television initially reported a death toll of 40 but later revised it to four Recently, US President Joe Biden supported the protesters on Sunday (October 16). After this, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi accused him of "inciting chaos." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Iran: Death toll increases to eight in Tehran's Evin prison fire, IHR demands international probe 

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.)

Iran hijab protests show the limits of people power