Iran protests: Tehran in ‘very fragile state’ 4 months after Mahsa Amini death

Mahsa Amini's death unleashed years of built-up anger in society over issues like the economy, discrimination against ethnic minorities, and strict social and political controls.

Four months after the death of Mahsa Amini, civil unrest continues to play out in Iran despite the regime’s attempts to quash it.

The 22-year-old’s death at the hands of Iran’s morality police on Sept. 16, 2022, unleashed years of built-up anger in society over issues like the economy and discrimination against ethnic minorities, as well as strict social and political controls.

The protests have changed Iran and have threatened the regime, said Shahrzad Mojab, professor with the Women and Gender Studies Institute at the University of Toronto. Despite the government’s crackdown, the Iranian people are showing “defiance” by keeping their movement alive, she said.

“It is impossible to go back to the time before the killing of Mahsa Amini. The mark is there and it is not reversible, and it has to go forward,” Mojab told Global News.

“That is the reason that the government is so fearful of the demands of women and the entire population. Their demands are for freedom, democracy, equality, better lives and employment, change of the economic situation, poverty, inflation, corruption. These are the demands of the people.”

In recent weeks, Iran has handed down dozens of death sentences to intimidate Iranians enraged by Amini’s killing.

Last week, Iran‘s judiciary sentenced three protesters to death on charges of “waging war on God,” defying growing international criticism over its fierce crackdown on demonstrators.

Iran hanged two other people recently in its attempts to stamp out unrest.