Hundreds of people are crowding in the streets of Tehran and now many other Iranian cities protesting. While they’re standing up for their freedom, the police disperse, trying to stop them with tear gas and fire. Signs rise above the sea of people displaying cries for freedom and pictures of a young women whose death has motivated these protests after she was beaten to death for wearing her hijab incorrectly.

In September, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was arrested by the morality police in Iran because of the way she was wearing her hijab. The morality police work to “enforce Iran’s Islamic code of conduct in public,” concentrating especially on women’s requirements to cover their full body and their hair with a hijab in an effort to preserve their religion (BBC News). Many times, people not following the dress code are arrested, and in certain situations, tortured, and Amini was no exception. The morality police said she died from “a sickness” she contracted soon after getting arrested, however her family said she was a healthy young woman and believe she suffered from several beats to the head. So, to show support for Mahsa, Muslim women are chopping of their hair and burning their hijabs, which worn as a sign of modesty for Muslim women and girls.

These protests are not only occurring in Iran but countries all over, including Houston. “I have attended demonstrations in Houston to spread awareness and just show support for the women of Iran,” Iris Rafferty (12) said. “There have been outbreaks of protests before in Iran throughout the years, but there’s something different about this time around. The demonstrations were started by women, but everyone is in support. The people of Iran want the regime to fall.”

But this movement for Amini is one of the many reasons people are now protesting in Iran, all caused by the corruption of the government. Rafferty also said, “My family is suppressed; we can’t even contact them anymore due to the government taking away Wi-Fi and internet,” Rafferty said.

These protests will continue as the people of Iran fight for their rights and in the process for Amini.