Unit 2 Quiz 1 (Iran)

Timeline of Life in Iran: After the Revolution

Women protest the mandatory wearing of a hijab Women at an anti-US protest outside of the US Embassy in Tehran where hostages were taken A family heads to pray but women must sit in a separate room from men Women shop for western wedding dresses but must wear it behind closed doors and weddings are supposed to be segregated by sex Some hire bouncers to guard or pay the police to ignore if they want a mixed-sex party Women try to rebel by pushing the limits on how far back their head scarf can go or what color it is Women cannot bathe in public wearing swimsuits Some rent boats to swim together far out at sea Women are often refused entry to football games so they watch from other places ex. shopping center Life was incredibly strict.

Timeline of Life in Iran: Before the Revolution

Women receiving a higher education attending university Women shopping for western clothing like mini skirts Women and men having public picnics Women getting their hair done at a hair salon Women at a party celebrating the anniversary of the Persian Monarchy Women wearing high fashion and makeup walking the streets

Protesters Response: Protest Methods

-Cutting their hair -Marches/rallies with signs -Chanting outside of government buildings -Burning hijabs -Chasing a man out of the school who came to lecture on the importance of the hijab -Waving their hijabs in the air -Girls posting themselves showing the finger to the posters of Khamanei -Lacks leadership and coordination

responce of Hackers

For a few seconds they interrupted the programming to show: A scary mask (to get attention?) An image of Khamanei with flames and targets on his heads Images of Mahsa Amini and 3 other women who were killed Captions "Join us and rise up" and "Our Youth's Blood is Dripping Off Your Paws"

20 Years After the Revolution (approx. 2000)

Life was still strict but people started secretly rebelling. - Anti-American murals were hung as well as portraits of martyrs from the Iraq-Iran War. -Cars crowded the streets. -Boys and girls would secretly meet up in parks. -People would rebel against rules inside their homes like having parties and listening to pop music. -The author's wife was fired for having a nose ring which was seen as despicable and Western.

Protest Repression Methods

Masih Alinejad → Post hijab-less photos and videos with their head down in public Ex. video of waving a hijab on a stick like a flag, riding a bike, going to sports game dressed as a man Ex. pictures from their back so they can't be recognized The police have responded with excessive force like firing birdshot and other metal pellets.

Iranian Government Response

President Khamanei said he was dismayed (distressed) and pained by her "tragic" death which he called a "bitter incident" and that "our hearts are broken for the young girl." He criticized the anti-government protesters saying they were burning the Quran, removing hijabs, and setting fire to mosques and banks and doing other planned activities which he says cannot be justified as a reaction. He says that the United States, the Zionist regime (Israeli/Jewish people), and their followers planned these protests.

Current (2022)

Repressive- head coverings are required, 1 of only 2 countries that requires them Punishments: Fined, Arrested, Imprisoned (up to 2 months but 2 years if for protest), Harassed

Nina Shakarami's Death

She actively protested and went missing and was later found dead Police refused to return her body to her family for 8 days and threatened to kill them if they spoke of her death

United Nations responce

The human rights activists strongly condemned the death and said they are shocked and saddened by her being another victim of a repressive regime that systematically discriminates against women and deprives them of their freedoms.

Spark: Mahsa Amini's Death:

The 22 year old died after being arrested by the morality police for weanig her hijab too loosely- her family said she was severely beaten but the police say she died of a heart attack The Amini Family: Her family denies she had a pre-existing condition and said witnesses told them she was beaten by the police. The Police & Government: They deny she was beaten and insist she died of a heart attack, but President Ebrahim Raisi ordered an investigation into her death.

Use of Facial Recognition Technologies

The Iranian gov't is planning on using facial recognition technology on public transport to identify women who are not complying with a strict new law on wearing the hijab The government responded with arrests, detentions, and forced confessions on TV

United States responce

The US is going to target law encforcement officials and others directly involved in the crackdown on protests in Iran since they are taking away womens' "basic rights" according to Biden. The US wants to make it easier for Iranians to access the internet by facilitating more access to secure, outside platforms and services (difficult). Set new sanctions: 7 high-ranking leaders were assigned financial penalties due to the shutdown of the internet, repression of speech, and violence on the protesters The US would allow American tech firms to expand their business in Iran where most internet access was cut off and an updated general license would allow tech firms to offer more social media and collaboration platforms Penalties have been imposed on countries like China and India who continue to ship sanctioned Iranian oil around the world Simultaneously as the US wants to support the protesters and freedom in Iran, it is undermining efforts to salvage the 2015 Iran nuclear Deal

40 Years After the Revolution (approx. 2020)

The lines between private and public are breaking down and things are becoming more open. -Many women have nose rings and some have pink hair under their scarves. -Women are seen riding bicycles and even motorcycles. -There are street performers on the streets of Tehran. -Seems like the government gave up on making arrests because only a few. -The internet and TV allowed people to see the outside world; however, the police would raid and destroy them but they would quickly go out and buy new ones. Iranians watched over 200 Persian language channels and shows like "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" -Men and women hang out in parks together and show PDA -Around Valentines Day men run around with heart balloons and teddy bears -They use Instagram to post their secret lives for the public

Evidence proving after the revolution life was strict:

There were controls on the media so people would not have access to Western influence The sexes had to be segregated in public spaces. Women had to follow compulsory head scarf laws. Alcohol was banned. Musical instruments could not be performed on television. Women were forbidden from riding bicycles. Morality police would brutally enforce the laws.