Nicosia, CYPRUS – Anger. Resentment. Fear. Disbelief. Shock.
All five emotions circle around the globe after the loss of yet another innocent life to a most heinous crime.
Mahsa Amini, 22, died in the Kasra Hospital in Iran. Amini never awoke from a coma caused by the assault she received from Iran’s ‘morality police,’ otherwise known as Guidance Patrol.
Her crime? Not wearing an appropriate headscarf.
Amini and her family, traveling from Iran’s Kurdistan to the capital of Tehran were stopped and Amini apprehended, according to The Guardian, the BBC and other news reports.
Despite her brother’s attempt to diffuse the situation, Iranian morality police reportedly took Amini in for ‘re-education.’
Some reports say they beat Amini and dragged her into a police van, though police deny it.
The most recent of a regretfully large pile of similar cases, Amini’s death has triggered national and global outrage.
Many Iranian celebrities and public figures have publicly condemned this act.
Across Iran, protests have sparked up, including women removing their headscarves at her funeral.
Some are questioning the morality of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, for denouncing George Floyd’s 2020 death due to police violence in Minnesota, but staying silent about Amini’s death.
Inquiries have been launched into the case by order of Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, though one can never know what to trust.
Although it is not clear whether it is due to the role of social media, or the fact that this most recent case may be the last drop in the glass, unleashing a tsunami wave of protests, outrage and action which will hopefully lead to change, it is safe to say that it is much appreciated.
So, what can you do? No matter where you are in the world, spread the word, share her story and others like it and talk to people, especially those who have a differing opinion than yours.
It shouldn’t take a tragic case like this to unite people around the globe.
Unfortunately, though, it often does, so now it’s time to make use of the voices we are so incredibly lucky to be able to use for good.
Erin Timur is a Reporter with Youth Journalism International from Nicosia, Cyprus. She wrote this commentary.
İpek Eser is a Junior Reporter and Senior Illustrator with Youth Journalism International from Istanbul, Turkiye. She made the illustration.
More from Youth Journalism International about Mahsa Amini:
Mahsa Amini is dead at 22 because of bad men
Mahsa Amini should not have died
