Sun Sep 15 16:46:30 UTC 2024: ## Iranian Women Prisoners Launch Hunger Strike on Second Anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s Death
**Tehran, Iran -** On the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death, a group of 34 female prisoners at Tehran’s Evin Prison initiated a hunger strike. The strike marks the anniversary of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, sparked by Amini’s death in police custody. Amini, a 22-year-old woman, died on September 16, 2022, after being detained by Iran’s morality police for allegedly violating the country’s hijab law.
Amini’s death ignited widespread protests throughout Iran, with demonstrations erupting in the streets, universities, and schools that persisted for months. The government’s crackdown on these protests led to the deaths of hundreds of citizens, and thousands were injured or arrested.
The Kurdistan Human Rights Network reported that Ministry of Intelligence officials have surrounded the home of Amini’s parents in Saqqez, issuing threats and restricting their movement.
In a sign of ongoing dissent, tradespeople and shopkeepers in western and northwestern Iranian cities are staging a strike to commemorate the anniversary. This includes cities such as Sanandaj, Saqqez, Divandarreh, Mahabad, and Bukan.
Mozhgan Eftekhari, Amini’s mother, took to Instagram to address those responsible for her daughter’s death, declaring, “They will be eternally disgraced in history.” Reflecting on the events, Eftekhari emphasized that Amini was “seized by those dark-hearted individuals who could not tolerate the beauty of their nation’s daughter.” Amini’s family maintains that she was beaten in the police van after her arrest, a claim refuted by the police.
The hunger strike by the female prisoners and the continued demonstrations across the country highlight the ongoing tensions and the lingering impact of Amini’s death on Iranian society.
First Piper 