Mahsa Amini: London protesters show support for ‘women’s revolution’ in Iran
Protesters gathered once more in central London to show solidarity with “the women’s revolution” in Iran sparked by Mahsa Amini’s death.
Iranian-born women’s rights activist Maryam Namazie estimated a few thousand people attended the rally in Trafalgar Square on Saturday – with similar numbers expected on Sunday.
Ms Namazie said weekly protests have been staged in Trafalgar Square since Ms Amini’s death.
The 22-year-old died on September 16, after she was detained by police in the capital Tehran for allegedly not adhering to Iran’s strict Islamic dress code. Since her death mass protests have sparked in Iran and around the world.
The demonstrations have involved more than 125 cities; at least 270 people have been killed and nearly 14,000 have been arrested, according to the group Human Rights Activists in Iran.
Ms Namazie said: “Protesters came to Trafalgar Square to show their support for the women’s revolution on Iran.
“This is a revolution, with women at its forefront, with men by their side, that will bring the Islamic regime to an end.
“It will herald a new era in Iran, the Middle East and across the world.”
She added the protest slogan of “women, life, freedom” is a “universal” message that has “captured the world’s imagination”.
Ms Namazie continued: “From Trafalgar Square, protesters have created a human chain to the Houses of Parliament to call on the UK government to end relations with the Islamic regime, shut down its embassy and Islamic centres promoting the regime’s propaganda against protesters and exiles living in Britain.
“People in Iran, our Generation Z, will bring this revolution to fruition, but we need public support in Britain and across the world to pressure their governments to stop relations.
“It is unethical to keep working with this government as it murders our young people on the streets.
“If not now, when?”
On Tuesday, British education secretary Gillian Keegan, then a Foreign Office minister, told the House of Commons: “We condemn the Iranian authorities. Obviously we’ve taken very strong action.
“We condemn the crackdown on protesters, journalists and internet freedom, and the use of violence in response to the expression of fundamental rights by women or any other members of Iranian society is wholly unjustifiable.
“We will continue to work, including with our international partners, to explore all options for addressing Iran’s human rights violations.”
She added: “We will never be able to comment on possible future actions or sanctions or designations.”
