Iran commemorates 40 days of mourning for Mahsa Amini despite threats from authorities

It has been 40 days since the death of Mahsa Amini, the trigger that has provoked massive protests throughout Iran that are putting the Ayatollahs' regime in check. The slogans "Women, life, freedom" and "death to the dictator" have become symbols of the demonstrations, as well as opposition to the Islamic veil, the motive for the murder of the young Kurdish woman at the hands of the morality police. 

The intensity and impact of the protests have led the authorities to crack down violently. So far, more than 230 protesters, including 29 children, have been killed, according to Iran Human Rights. Security forces have also detained hundreds of people whose whereabouts are unknown.

Nevertheless, Iranians remain undeterred and continue to speak out against the regime's oppression and for young Amini and the rest of those killed in the protests. According to Iranian tradition, 40 days after the death of a person, the period of mourning ends. For this reason, today will be a particularly important day in the country.

Crowds of people have made a pilgrimage to Amini's grave at the cemetery in Saqqez, the 22-year-old's hometown, despite pressure from the authorities. The state news agency IRNA issued a statement saying that the family had not planned to hold a ceremony to commemorate the day "to avoid any unfortunate problems". Activists told AFP that Iranian security services warned Amini's family not to hold any events on the day, otherwise "they should worry about their son's life". 

In addition to threats and pressure, the authorities have tried to prevent Iranians from visiting Amini's grave. Hengaw reported roadblocks on the road leading to Saqqez, as well as police deployments to prevent pilgrimages to the tomb. The NGO also noted that the Iranian footballers, Ali Daei and Hamed Lak, came to the Kurdish city because "they want to participate in the 40-day ceremony".

The athletes, one of whom had already been in trouble for supporting the protests on social media, were "transferred to a government hotel under the control of security forces", Hengaw adds. This is not the first time that Iranian sports celebrities have shown their support for the protests. Shortly after the demonstrations began, the national football team hid the national symbols on their jerseys as they listened to the national anthem before a friendly match with Senegal. Subsequently, mountain climber Elnaz Rekabi competed in South Korea with her hair uncovered as a gesture of support for the protests.

At the same time, demonstrations have continued in the rest of the country, especially at universities. Students have heckled government representatives, state media journalists and defied gender segregation rules by eating outside schools with boys and girls together after universities closed cafeterias to prevent just that. 

"A student may die, but he will not accept humiliation," chanted young people at Shahid Chamran University in Ahvaz, reports AFP. The news agency also quotes activists accusing security forces of hitting girls at the Shahid Sadr Girls' School in Tehran. "Students at the high school have been attacked, frisked and beaten," says 1500tasvir, an account on Twitter, which is responsible for disseminating images of the protests. Subsequently, parents protested in front of the school and police attacked the neighbourhood and shot at houses. 

In addition to the protests, strikes will continue during the mourning weekend for Amini. In the Kurdistan region many shops will remain closed "as a sign of respect", while oil refinery workers in various parts of the country will begin another day of strike action today.

As Iran's citizens take to the streets in protest at the risk of their lives, Iranians abroad are supporting their compatriots in the countries where they live. In Berlin, for example, some 80,000 people demonstrated in solidarity with the protests in Iran. It is estimated that this march has so far been the largest ever organised by Iranians in the diaspora. 

Protests outside Iran have not only reached European capitals. They have also crossed the pond to the United States, Canada and Latin American countries such as Ecuador. They have also spread across the Middle East region to countries such as Lebanon and Turkey.