The protest movement does not seem to be weakening in Iran. In nearly 80 cities across the country, protesters are still marching despite the crackdown. Iranian authorities have arrested more than 1,200 people, most of them in northern Iran since the start of the protest movement. The latest count from the NGO Iran Human Rights, based in Oslo, reports at least 54 dead and several hundred injured.
>> Death of Mahsa Amini: what are the morality police, who sow terror in Iran?
To repress out of sight, the regime is trying to completely cut off internet access in the country. But some protesters still manage to communicate through encrypted computer networks. Zoya lives in Tehran and has been protesting since day one. This student assures her that the movement is not weakening despite the repression: “The government continues to kill people in the streets. People don’t have guns, but there are more of them.”
Three demonstrators recount the repression of the regime – Testimonies collected by Noé Pignède
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The protests began on September 16, the date of the death of Mahsa Amini arrested three days earlier in Tehran for “inappropriate wearing of clothes” in the Islamic Republic where the dress code for women is strict, in particular the wearing of the Islamic veil. This death set fire to the powder but the demands of the demonstrators are now much broader.
“The problem is no longer the compulsory veil. The problem is the system and everyone is trying to protest against the Supreme Leader. This fascism.”
Zoya, Iranianat franceinfo
Already in 2019, Zoya had participated in the gigantic demonstrations against power. A revolt stifled in blood. But this time, the young woman hopes that the outcome will be different. “Everyone is there, from all strata of society, the young, the oldlists the Iranian. Everyone says this time is different than other times and everyone thinks it’s the start of another revolution for freedom, equality and women.”
Like Mahsa Amini, Adnan comes from the Kurdish minority. “To try to prove that they did not murder her, they are trying to kill us all”, explains the Iranian. He has just returned home after another night of riots. “They became even more brutal and aggressivehe explains. They shoot people and use paintballs to mark protesters and then arrest them. But the good news is that their morale is eroding and they are starting to tire, while opposite, we are more and more numerous and more and more combative.
This other Iranian continues to take to the streets too. But several of his relatives have been arrested in recent days. “We are very worriedhe confides. The regime does not hesitate to torture and kill prisoners. Of course, we all run the risk of being arrested too. But we are not afraid.” These three demonstrators call on the international community to maintain pressure on the Islamic Republic. But they reject the idea of new sanctions, which they say strangle the people and strengthen the regime.