Iran: Call for new nationwide protests and strikes Protest in southern Syria – security forces open fire

Activists in Iran have called for new nationwide protests and strikes. The so-called 14-15-16 protests – the numbers are the date in the Persian calendar month of Azar – are expected to last Monday through Wednesday and will hit the Islamic system in particular economically. Therefore, Iranian citizens were also called upon not to shop on these three days to prevent money from circulating in the Iranian banking system. According to the activists, as many shops as possible should remain closed, especially in economic centers such as bazaars in large cities.

Ahead of the three-day protests, Iran’s Attorney General’s statement on the disbanding of the vice squad sparked debate in the country. On the one hand, this was seen as a stage victory for the women’s movement in Iran. On the other hand, everyone agreed that this move would be pointless without lifting the headscarf requirement for Iranian women that has existed for more than 40 years. “The dissolution of the vice squad was necessary, but not enough until the mandatory dress code law is revised,” political scientist Abbas Abdi said on Twitter.

The vice squad has been the catalyst for the country’s systemic uprisings that have been going on for more than two months. In mid-September, the Islamic moral guards arrested 22-year-old Mahsa Amini because a few locks of her hair were said to be sticking out from under her headscarf. Amini died a few days later in the custody of the vice squad. Since then, people in Iran have been protesting against the Islamic system and its anachronistic laws and regulations.

For observers, statements such as the dissolution of the moral police, promises in parliament about a revision of the laws or planned commissions of inquiry are merely an attempt by the system to calm the tense situation ahead of the three-day protests.

(yam/sda/dpa)