Woman, Life, Freedom – Women’s Rights and Revolution(s) in Iran

The ongoing revolution in Iran started with the murder of 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian Jina Mahsa Amini, who was violently detained, brutalised, and killed by the morality police for not sufficiently covering her hair under the compulsory hijab. With that, once again the bodily autonomy of women became the trigger and symbol of protests in Iran. But the current revolution goes beyond women’s rights to encompass marginalised and oppressed communities across the country, who are fighting for the freedom of all Iranians. Guided and inspired by the chants of the revolution, this lecture will offer a historical account of women’s rights and recent attempts at revolutions against oppressive state powers in Iran. It will conclude by highlighting the importance of transnational solidarity with the Iranian people and contrast this with recent attempts at co-optation or abuse of the movement.