With the World Cup underway in Qatar and much of the global community’s attention fixated on the host nation and its controversies, many have forgotten about the ongoing crisis involving Iran and their people’s struggle for human rights after a woman was found dead while in that nation's "morality" police custody. The woman was arrested for improperly wearing her hijab.
Since the middle of September, there has been unrest in the streets, with the origin of the protests in Tehran, Iran’s Capitol. Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) has released a video commending the efforts of the protestors.
Our message to the Iranian people is we hear you, we see you, and we support you.
As a member of the United States Congress, I am absolutely committed to holding the murderous regime accountable for its countless crimes against the people of #Iran. pic.twitter.com/4RZqgrXYfQ
— Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) November 22, 2022
“At the frontlines of the protests and young people. High school students walking out of school on strikes, women tearing off their hijabs and cutting their hair in an act of mourning and defiance. Now the Iranian people are burning Soleimani statues, Khomeini billboards, and chanting death to the dictator. Our message to the Iranian people is that we hear you and we support you,” said Rep. Gimenez.
He would also go on to mention that he is “committed to holding the murderous regime accountable for its countless crimes against the people of Iran,” Gimenez states in the video.
In 1979, the Iranian Revolution saw the more Western-appropriating Shah of Iran dethroned and sent into exile and was replaced with the Islamic theocracy we see today. From then, Iran became very oppressive to women and religious dissidents. Since 1983, women have been forced to wear the hijab.
Now, it appears the middle eastern country could be shifting back to its more progressive past.
Because of Iran’s participation in this installment of the World Cup, many have wondered why nations such as Russia are banned from FIFA (the International Association of Federated Football) to participate in this year’s cup while Iran, which is currently committing mass human rights violations as well, has been given the go-ahead.
