Protestors take to the streets in support of women of Afghanistan and Iran
Protestors took to the streets again to support women’s rights in Iran (Photos by Jordan Somers)
By Jordan Somers
Rallying cries in support of Iran’s revolution continued on Saturday at the Westlake Center and Seattle Center. Hundreds were in attendance as community organizers and performers proclaimed their support for the women and protesters in Iran who continue to face unprecedented violence at the hands of Iran’s morality police and Islamic State.
The revolution commenced after a Kurdish woman, Jina “Mahsa” Amini, died on September 16 two days after purportedly being badly beaten by the morality police for wearing her hijab incorrectly. Since Amini’s death protests have sparked both nationwide and globally to denounce the Iranian government’s underlying violence and treatment toward women. Death tolls are said to be near 200, with many more feared to be unreported due to the ongoing internet blackout.
Community members also gathered in support for women and students of Afghanistan, who have been the target of ongoing suicide bombings purportedly carried out by the Taliban.
Activists are calling this a blatant genoide, particularly directed toward the minority Hazara community.
The Taliban have historic prominence dating back to the 1980’s, rising to power after the Soviet Union and United States withdrew their military from Afghanistan. Engaged in the latter end of the Cold War, both the U.S.and Soviet Union sought to gain strategic geographic procurement of the country. After both countries evacuated their military, the Taliban had formed amid a newly formed civil war.
Hazaras have long been persecuted by the Taliban for their differing religious and ethnic identity. The Taliban regime had been largely quashed amid the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. However, they returned to national and governmental power after President Biden pulled all remaining military personnel out of the country in 2021.
The UN Mission has documented numerous human rights violations in wake of ongoing discrimination, reports of torture, questonable arrests, and onging extreme violence toward the Hazare populations.
