Protesters in Iran mark 40th day since the death of Mahsa Amini

Rudaw

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Mourners on Wednesday marched towards the cemetery where Mahsa (Zhina) Amini lays to rest, marking 40 days since her death in police custody, as tension mounts across the Kurdish areas of western Iran. 

In spite of warnings and measures by security forces, videos surfaced online showing large groups of people marching towards Amini’s grave. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Crops (IRGC) has allegedly forced the Amini family to say that they would not hold an event, rights groups said. 

Videos and photos posted by activists and rights monitors show people marching towards the cemetery on the main highway, through fields, on foot, and in cars or motorbikes. 

Chants of “Woman, life, freedom”, “Death to the dictator” and "Down with traitors" echoed at the burial site in Aichi cemetery in the Kurdish city of Saqqez, Amini’s hometown and the origin of the weeks-long nationwide protests. Security forces also reportedly fired tear gas at protesters in Saqqez. 

Authorities blocked most of the roads leading to the cemetery in anticipation of a flare-up of violence, but people managed to find other routes according to rights groups. A heavy deployment of security forces across the Kurdish areas can be seen in footage online. 

Hengaw Organization for Human Rights reported clashes between protesters and security forces in Sanandaj, the city which has become the epicenter of the protests. Protesters gathered in the city outside the governor’s office. 

Hengaw also stated that strikes have been declared in Bukan, Mahabad, Sanandaj, Divandarreh, Baneh, Saqqez, and Kamyaran. 

Amini was arrested by Iran’s so-called morality police for allegedly wearing the hijab in an improper manner. 

Her death sparked outrage across the cities of Iran with thousands of civilians and activists taking to the streets to protest the ambiguous circumstances surrounding the young woman’s death. The incident also drew reactions from the international community, strongly condemning her death.