Iran’s coroner later linked her death to a “pre-existing medical condition”, but witnesses claimed she was beaten and her family said she was fit and healthy before her arrest.
Mahsa Amini’s death in custody in Iran sparked the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ movement. Source: AAP / Diego Fedele
The , with women and young people often at the forefront as protesters in Iran targeted symbols of the Islamic Republic, burning pictures of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and chanting “Death to the Dictator”.
Authorities in Iran have imposed travel bans and jail terms on several public figures, from athletes to actresses. Tehran drew further condemnation for torturing and executing protesters, including family members of the Australian diaspora.
Woman Life Freedom protesters on the steps of the Victorian Parliament. Source: AAP / Diego Fedele
Activists and politicians spoke at rallies across the country on Saturday to mark one year since Amini’s death, and demand greater freedoms for women.
The Melbourne rally was attended by Victorian Greens MP Tim Read and academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert. The latter was previously imprisoned for two years in Iran on espionage charges, allegations she has consistently denied.
Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who spent two years in prison in Iran on espionage charges – allegations which she denies. Source: SBS News
“It’s been really shocking and quite affecting for me to watch the events unfolding over Iran for the last 12 months,” Moore-Gilbert told SBS News.
“The brave women and men and children of Iran who are standing up against this horrific regime, who are taking to the streets still, even 12 months later, at great danger and risk to themselves, and are being tortured, are being raped, are being murdered or executed for simply standing up for their rights … these amazing, wonderful, brave people.”
Protesters gathered in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Sydney and Perth on Saturday. Source: SBS News
South Australian senator Simon Birmingham joined Amnesty International’s Nader Zoljalali in Adelaide, while Queensland senator Paul Scar joined Greens member Amy McMahon at the Brisbane rally.
“This is what it’s all about, the Woman Life Freedom revolution, to take back our beautiful land of Iran back from the Islamic republic regime,” Ek Taghdir, a protester who attended the Melbourne rally, told SBS News.
“This is twofold. We’ve got to remember, Woman Life Freedom is not just an Iranian pursuit. Greater strides may have been made in Western societies, but those strides aren’t immune from being undermined or hijacked.”
Protesters in Federation Square. Source: SBS News
Australian-Iranians defiant in the face of threats
The father of prominent regime critic Tina Kordrostami found a photo of his daughter on his front steps marked with a message conveying “shut your daughter up” after earlier protests outside the Canberra embassy.
“We accept it – if we get stabbed, we get stabbed.”
Another activist, who wants to keep his identity secret, says members of the Comancheros gang physically assaulted him, threatened him and told him to stop his activism.
Iran summons Australian envoy over rights sanctions
Two Iran Broadcasting reporters have also been sanctioned, as have a web-hosting service and a satellite channel sponsored by Iranian state media.
– With additional reporting by Tys Occhiuzzi.
