Hundreds of individuals took to the streets of Paris on Sunday, rallying in support of women's rights and the opposition movement in Iran, marking two years since the death of Mahsa Amini ignited widespread protests against the country's religious authorities.
Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, passed away while in custody after being detained for allegedly breaching the Islamic Republic's stringent dress code for women. The demonstration, orchestrated by approximately 20 human rights organizations, coincided with 34 women commencing a hunger strike in a Tehran prison to commemorate the second anniversary of her death.
Chirinne Ardakani, a Franco-Iranian attorney and member of the 'Iran Justice' collective, emphasized that the 'sacrifices' made by Iranians opposing the regime were 'not in vain.' 'Everything has transformed in Iran,' Ardakani stated. 'We've transitioned from an entirely patriarchal society, where women were not permitted to express themselves in public, to widespread support for these women,' the lawyer and activist added.
The march in solidarity with the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement saw the participation of Benjamin Briere and Louis Arnaud, two Frenchmen who were arrested and unlawfully detained in Iran. Iran is accused of apprehending Westerners without justification and employing them as bargaining tools in diplomatic negotiations, with French diplomats characterizing these detainees as 'state hostages.' Briere was ultimately released in May 2023, while Arnaud was freed the following month.
'Yes, I was incarcerated, but it is an immense honor to have lived among you, freedom fighters, who shared my suffering,' Arnaud addressed the crowd, marking his first public speech since his release. Three other French nationals remain imprisoned in Iran.
Following Amini's death in custody on September 16, 2022, the women-led protests that ensued shook Iran's leadership during the autumn and winter. However, the authorities subsequently quelled the demonstrations, with Amnesty International reporting that security forces employed assault rifles and shotguns in the crackdown. Human rights organizations estimate that at least 551 individuals were killed, with thousands more arrested, according to the United Nations.
