The International Liberty Association (ILA) was active in Kingston town centre this week raising awareness of protests for women’s rights in Iran.
Demonstratons have been ongoing in Iran since the death of 22 year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa ‘Jina’ Amini who died after being detained by Iranian morality police for wearing her headscarf ‘improperly’.
The ILA aims to “provide support and assistance to those imprisoned or otherwise detained due to their gender, political, religious or otherwise consciously held belief”, according to their website.
One campaigner said he wanted to try and appeal to young men and women in Kingston to educate themselves about the struggles if women in Iran.
The organisation’s stands proved popular with people of a variety of ages and genders reading the leaflets on display and speaking to the older men who were campaigning for women’s rights.
Although it is unknown precisely how many protesters have been arrested, Iran International estimates the number to be around 18,000.
Hundreds have been killed during the protests and at least four people are known to have been exectued since the demonstrations began.
Most recently 22 year-old Mansur Dehmardeh was sentenced for ‘corruption of Earth’ which is punishable by death.
The protests in Iran continue to gain momentum and minorities such as Kurds, Balochis, Turkmen, and Azeris have been targeted during the protests.
There has been much speculation that Amini herself was targeted for wearing Kurdish clothing when she was arrested.
For more information on the campaign visit the International Liberty Association’s website.
Emma Farr
Balsam Maki
Denise Meriche