Why the Name Mahsa Became a Code

Why did the name Mahsa become a symbol?

Why did the name Mahsa become a symbol? Last Tuesday, when Mahsa Amini was traveling with her brother from Karaj to Tehran by metro, she could not have imagined that this journey would turn her into the symbol of a nationwide protest movement, to the extent that her name would become a symbol not only in Iran but across the world.

It is said that the unity that has emerged following this incident is even deeper and more serious than the events of 2019. The situation has reached a point where Ebi and Dariush, two singers residing in the U.S., have issued a call for protest in front of the United Nations during Ebrahim Raisi’s speech. Iranians living in other countries and even continents, such as Turkey, Canada, and Australia, are holding protest gatherings, and political leaders and artists from various countries are speaking out and issuing statements against the events in Iran.

Woman, Life, Freedom

To the extent that some media outlets have used the term ‘endless reactions to Mahsa Amini’s death,’ reactions that continue even a week after her death. It seems that the trend of the Mahsa Amini hashtag reaching millions on Twitter in recent days has been very effective in attracting the attention of global media and subsequently the international community.

The beginning of these protests, which are a reaction to the morality police and mandatory hijab, has led many analysts to conclude that women will play a fundamental role in the future political and social transformations of Iran. They believe that women are currently at the forefront of these protests. Khashayar Deyhimi, a translator and writer in the field of philosophy and politics, wrote that all the political slogans of recent years smelled of 1979, but the slogan ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ is new and different, suitable for our times.

Simultaneously with the start of street protests in various cities in Iran, which include images and videos of confrontations, especially by women with the police, burning of headscarves and shawls, and accompanying dancing and joy, there are also images of police and plainclothes forces attacking with batons and shooting at people. Additionally, there are reports of several people being injured and killed in different cities.

Reactions of World Leaders

The President of Chile spoke about Mahsa Amini today at the United Nations. Gabriel Boric, who is leftist, was the first world leader to mention Mahsa’s name at the UN General Assembly and called for an end to violence against women in Iran. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, urged Iran to pay attention to women’s street protests.

She said that women’s voices must be heard because they are demanding rights that people everywhere should have. Macron also met with Raisi and said that during this meeting, he insisted on the necessity of respecting women’s rights in Iran, although some social media users have questioned the overall meeting and criticized Macron for it.

Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly also issued a statement on Twitter condemning Mahsa Amini’s death, expressing that her heart is with her loved ones and the women of Iran, and wrote that Canada calls for a full and transparent investigation into her death. She further wrote that we urge Iran to end all forms of harassment and discrimination against women and to respect the right to peaceful protest.

The acting High Commissioner for Human Rights at the United Nations has stated that the tragic death of Mahsa Amini and the allegations of torture and mistreatment should be promptly, impartially, and effectively investigated by independent competent authorities.

Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the United Nations Human Rights Office, also said that according to some reports, between two to five people have been killed in protests condemning the death of this young woman. This UN official has expressed concern about the laws regarding mandatory hijab in Iran.

U.S. Secretary of State Blinken has told Iran to end the harassment of women. The European Union also condemned this death, calling it an unacceptable event, and former U.S. State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus criticized the 72-hour delay of Secretary of State Blinken in condemning Mahsa Amini’s death, saying that world leaders should warn the Islamic Republic about killing people.

Strong Support from Turkish Artists

Meanwhile, the support from foreign artists for Iranian women has been noteworthy. American actress Leah Remini was the first famous foreign artist to react to Mahsa’s death, which turned into a Twitter trend. She asked Twitter users to share Mahsa Amini’s name and story with her. Famous American model Bella Hadid also expressed sympathy with her family by posting a picture of Mahsa on her Instagram page and wrote that Mahsa did not deserve such a death.

American actress Sharon Stone also wrote on her Instagram page, ‘Please keep your hands off our bodies.’ American actor Misha Collins said, ‘Iranian women, be brave and stay strong. The world stands with you.’ Famous Instagram influencer Khaby Lame also posted Mahsa’s picture and wrote, ‘If you live on this planet and remain silent, you can never speak about women’s rights again.’

However, the support from Turkish artists has been the most significant. Turkish singer Ebru Gündeş posted the Mahsa Amini hashtag on Twitter and displayed Mahsa’s photo on her Instagram. Turkish actress Eda Baccı also said, ‘I support Iranian women.’ Another Turkish actor, Gökhan Alkan, posted both the Persian and English hashtags of Mahsa Amini and wrote, ‘Do something for Iran.’

Turkish artist Burcu Biricik, actress of the series ‘The Girl Behind the Glass,’ also expressed sympathy with Iranians by posting images of Mahsa Amini. Turkish writer Elif Shafak also wrote on her Instagram, ‘I don’t know what to write out of deep sadness. My heart is aching and full of anger and sorrow.’ Turkish singers Gülben Ergen and Hadise, and Turkish writer Nezhet Çelik have also had similar reactions.