remembering mahsa amini
16th September 2023 marks the one year death anniversary of Mahsa Amini, the 22 year old Iranian young woman who was a victim of the ‘morality laws’ in her country.
The words below were written last year, a few days after Mahsa’s passing, but I wanted to re-share it on my new platform because unfortunately, this issue still remains relevant today.
Mahsa Amini, a 22 year old Kurdish woman, died in the city of Tehran after she was taken into custody by the 'morality police' for not wearing her hijab properly. Immediately, she became a symbol of oppression- of women's rights being taken away.
10 days after her death, thousands of people over the world are protesting against the harsh regime in Iran, fighting a "women's revolution."
What do we take from this?
Firstly, Allah (SWT) mentions in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 256:
"There is no compulsion in religion"
Islam does not advocate oppression. Islam does not believe in forcing others. Islam gives everyone, man and woman, the right to free will.
I have to make this clear- the issue is not the hijab. It is never the hijab. When women choose to wear the hijab it is because it is a symbol of their faith. It is a symbol of the love, mercy and compassion of their Lord. It is a symbol of empowerment. It is the crown on their heads.
Those who wear the hijab understand fully that it is a journey, and one that is not easy. The hijab is not something that should be forced upon a woman. Although it is compulsory, like everything, each individual has the right to choose whether they follow that ruling or not.
If the issue is not the hijab, then what is it?
The issue is what it always has been- the stripping away of women's rights.
We live in the 21st century, yet we still live in a patriarchal society. And this is why:
France, Denmark, Austria: banning religious dress
USA and Northern Ireland: banning reproductive freedoms
Afghanistan: young women unable to attend school
Iran: forcing religious dressing on all women
This is not even a list of half the examples of how women's rights are under threat globally.
Women are protesting against their lack of choice, against their lack of freedom, against the patriarchy.
I also wanted to say that if you are an ally for the women in Iran, you have to be an ally for the women who want to wear the hijab but are being forced not to. You cannot be an advocate for something only when it fits your agenda. Both are an example of misogynistic control.The hijab is every woman's choice. She should not be forced to wear it, and not be forced to take it off.
How can you help?
Be an ally: male or female, listen to those who are facing these challenges and make it clear that you support what they are fighting for
Raise awareness: whether it be through social media, talking to people around you, speaking in a school assembly- speak about the issue
Keep up to date with the news: sometimes it can be challenging, but try as often as you can to stay educated about what is going on, ignorance is never the answer
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
"And be kind to your women"
a year later…
Although Mahsa’s death saw the women of Iran engaging in endless protests, recent events relating to women’s rights have proven that this issue remains timeless.
In the past fortnight we have seen France banning abayas in state-schools, followed by Egypt banning their students from wearing the niqab.
It’s heartbreaking to see that so many women are unable to express themselves how they wish, are unable to live their lives according to how they deem fit. Why is it that majority of the time, men in power are dictating what women, whether religious or not, choose to do with their lives? Like I said in the previous post, this is not a matter that singles out Muslim women, although perhaps we are likely to be on the receiving end of it more, and recent laws have targeted Muslim women.The basis of this issue is that women are being stripped away of their freedoms to choose. How does it affect someone if a Muslim woman chooses to wear a niqab or abaya?
Unfortunately, I don’t exactly have a conclusion for this. It angers me and hurts me to see sisters suffering globally just because they are existing. And I truly stand in solidarity with every woman who is being forced into doing something due to restrictive laws.
May The Al-Mighty shower His endless mercy on those who are under difficulty. May He guide us all to the right path. May He increase our understanding and allow us to help those who are facing injustice. May Allah protect our womenfolk and grant them strength during these difficult times.
Aameen
Until next time,
atiyahtalks