Numerous people demonstrated in Kassel at the weekend, to express their solidarity with the protests in Iran. There, a few days ago, 22-year-old Mahsa Amînî died in Iranian police custody as a result of injuries inflicted on her under torture.
Mahsa's real name was Jina. That was the Kurdish name, which the Iranian authorities had forbidden her to wear in public. She was arrested by the Islamic regime's morality police, because she was not wearing her headgear properly. As a result of her death, it occurred in particular in the Kurdish west of Iran (I'm shopping deaf) to riots, where women keep their hijab, the traditional Islamic headscarf, discarded or publicly burned.
Solidarity actions took place in many cities outside Iran, so also on 23. and 24. September in Kassel. There were rallies on both days, where there were loud demonstrations against the Islamic Republic. On Friday came approx. 150 People on Kassel's Königsplatz together, on Saturday gathered about 200 in front of the town hall.
In a speech by the feminist organization Fight together the murder of Jîna Amînî was classified as state femicide in the context of women's oppression in Iran. Similarly, the state murder of Jîna Mahsa Amini is viewed by many as a feminist:understood worldwide.
So wrote Genie, the Kurdish Women's Office for Peace e.V., in his statement: “From the crew, force, repression and oppression, by the States keep themselves alive, As always, women are most affected. The organized power of women and all oppressed groups is at the same time the driving force for building peace, freedom and equality”
The feminist dimension of the protests in Iran was also visible in Kassel in the past few days: The majority of the participants in the demonstration were women and the slogan “Jin, Jian, Liberty" ("Women, life, Freedom") intoned.
A speaker said, that she could not wish for anything more, than finally being able to hug their families in Iran again and no longer having to be afraid for them, who live there. Also the numerous exports of industrial goods from western countries, especially those from Germany, were denounced in a speech. Many of these products enable the regime to enforce its reign of terror: From stun guns to construction cranes, where people are hung.
“The victory over the Islamic Republic will be female.”
Initiative “Free Iran Now”
Mass protests have repeatedly taken place in the past, but each time they were crushed by the Iranian repressive authorities. Recently in a similar form 2019. The hope is great, that this time the protests could lead to social upheavals. It's about democratization, secularizations, Freedom - and above all about women's rights. The Kassel Initiative Free Iran Now brought this ray of light to the point: "The signs are pointing to revolution".
Meanwhile, the protests have been going on for almost a week and the violence, with which the Iranian state is trying, to enclose the posts, gets bigger and bigger. There is now talk of about 50 fatalities. But at the same time, night after night, more and more people are taking to the streets and demonstrating for an end to the mullahs' rule.
