Sun Sep 15 16:53:11 UTC 2024: ## Paris Rally Honors Mahsa Amini, Shows Solidarity with Iranian Women
**PARIS, FRANCE -** Hundreds of people marched through Paris on Sunday, marking the two-year anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death and expressing solidarity with the ongoing struggle for women’s rights in Iran. The march, organized by 20 human rights associations, comes as 34 women in a Tehran prison began a hunger strike to commemorate the tragic event.
Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, died in police custody after being arrested for allegedly violating Iran’s strict dress code for women. Her death sparked widespread protests across Iran, known as the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement, challenging the Islamic Republic’s authority.
“Everything has changed in Iran,” said Chirinne Ardakani, a Franco-Iranian lawyer and member of the Iran Justice collective. “We’ve gone from an absolutely patriarchal culture to massive support for these women.”
The march was attended by Benjamin Briere and Louis Arnaud, two Frenchmen who were arrested and detained in Iran without cause. They were released in May and June 2023, respectively, after being held as bargaining chips in state-to-state negotiations.
“Yes, I was in prison, but it is an immense honor to have been able to live among you, freedom fighters, who shared my suffering,” Arnaud told the crowd, in his first public address since his release. Three other French nationals remain detained in Iran.
The protests that erupted following Amini’s death were met with a brutal crackdown by Iranian authorities. Amnesty International reports that security forces used assault rifles and shotguns to suppress the demonstrations, leading to the deaths of at least 551 people. Thousands more were arrested, according to the United Nations.
The march in Paris serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for women’s rights in Iran and the international community’s unwavering support for those fighting for freedom and equality.
First Piper 