On September 16, 2022, the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of Tehran’s religious morality police sent shockwaves through Iran and launched a revolutionary movement, characterized by the slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom”. The government quickly moved to suppress protests in cities across Iran, arresting more than 20,000 people and killing more than 500 young protesters. The regime subsequently employed facial recognition technology to enforce strict laws on wearing the hijab, resulting in the closure of numerous restaurants, shops, and even pharmacies who served uncovered women.
Yet despite this crackdown, the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement is still alive today—the culmination of a gradual cultural paradigm shift that has unfolded over the past 44 years. This shift has touched every corner of Iranian society, encompassing religious and ethnic minorities, university students, professors, schoolchildren, factory workers, journalists, artists, and countless other citizens. Over the past twelve months, there has been a notable rise in Iranian professionals in various fields, including the arts, sports, music, and cinema, who have advocated for women’s issues. For example, some prominent Iranian women in the film industry supported the revolutionary uprising by removing their hijabs and sharing their photos on social networks.