Mahsa Amini was a woman like any other. But his death on September 16 gave him a place in history by triggering a wave of protest which, six months later, is helping to transform Iranian society.
On September 13, this 22-year-old woman was visiting Tehran with her brother and cousins when she was arrested at the exit of the metro in the center of the capital.
Accused of wearing “inappropriate” attire, she was taken to the premises of the morality police, responsible for monitoring the dress code of the Islamic Republic, which is strict for women.
In an office, Mahsa Amini collapses after an exchange with a policewoman, according to a short surveillance video released by the authorities.
The young woman from Iranian Kurdistan, who was preparing to enter university, died three days later in hospital. The state denies any involvement in his death.
An epitaph engraved on his tomb – “You are not dead Mahsa, your name becomes a symbol” – is prosthetic: Mahsa Amini has become a face recognized by all Iranians and well beyond the country’s borders.
For many, she personifies the fight against the obligation to wear the veil and becomes the unifying figure of the protest.
Often stylized, his portrait is found on walls, signs but also on the cover of Iranian magazines, such as the monthly Andisheh Pouya this month.
“Unknown before her death, Mahsa has become a symbol of oppression and her innocent face reinforces this image,” summarizes political scientist Ahmad Zeidabadi.
The anger caused by his death has coagulated with “a series of problems, including the economic crisis, the attitude of the morality police, or political issues such as the disqualification of candidates during elections”, explains sociologist Abbas Abdi .
Opening request
In October and November, the protests increase in power, in different forms, often initiated by young people without a leader or political program except for the demand for gender equality and greater openness.
Uniting, the power denounces “riots” orchestrated from abroad, in particular by the United States and exiled opponents, very active on social networks.
The toll is heavy: hundreds killed and thousands arrested, four of whom were executed.
In February, noting a decline in the movement, the authorities began to release more than 82,000 detainees, of whom 22,600 “were linked to the riots”, the head of the judicial authority, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, indicated this week.
“The demonstrations are over, but I doubt that the protest has ended,” said Abbas Abdi.
“Some people, especially in the diaspora, have mistakenly bet on the fall of the Islamic Republic in the very near future,” Mr. Zeidabadi said. But the protest had “results as a civic movement”, according to him.
Evidenced by a clearly visible development in the streets of Tehran and other large cities: the presence of more and more women not wearing the veil.
“A certain degree of freedom from the hijab is tolerated even if the law and the rules have not changed,” notes Mr. Zeidabadi.
On this issue, which divides society, the authorities seem to be cautious.
Because “in the current situation, any incident can trigger new protests”, specifies Mr. Abdi. He cites the strong emotion caused by the case of the mysterious intoxication of students in more than 200 girls’ schools over the past three months.
“The main causes of the crisis remain,” added Mr. Abdi. They are particularly economic with inflation of around 50% and the fall of the rial, the national currency, against the dollar and the euro.
In such a context, “it seems that the Islamic Republic has realized the need for a change of policy, although there is no consensus within it on the lasting response to bring the challenge” , believes Mr. Zeidabadi.
The expert thus gives the example of the prospect of a relaunch of negotiations on nuclear power or the announcement of the normalization of relations with Saudi Arabia. “These are the signs of a turning point in foreign policy which will have internal consequences, in particular through the marginalization of radical forces and the strengthening of pragmatists,” he predicts.