Item Summary

7 - Mahsa Jina Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman from the northwestern city of Saqqez, hailed from Kurdistan, Iran. She was arrested by the Morality Police on the accusation of not wearing the “proper” hijab, She ultimately lost her life due to torture while in police custody. Amini's death sparked the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, originating in Saqqez and Kurdistan before spreading across Iran and beyond. The movement's rallying cry, "Jin, Jiyan, Azadî," meaning "Woman, Life, Freedom" in Kurdish (and was also translated as “Zan, Zendegi, Azadi” into Persian), has become a symbol in the fight for justice and liberation.

10, 15 - Azadi Tower, also known as Freedom Tower, is an iconic landmark and symbol of Tehran, the capital of Iran. It is one of the most significant architectural structures in the country, a symbol of freedom, and holds cultural and historical significance in the country's modern identity.

10 - Roya Piraee lived in Kermanshah, in western Iran, when her mother, Minoo Majidi, was killed during the September 2022 Iranian protests. Her mother was shot at close range by security forces on motorbikes while she was chanting slogans with other protesters. A viral picture of Roya shows her standing by her mother's grave, holding her cut hair as a symbol of protest and defiance against the Iranian regime.

16 - General Strike - The October 2022 three-day strike, which took place between October 22 and 24, marked a significant, peaceful display of protest. It stood as a united expression of solidarity with the anti-government demonstrations, which were sparked by the police killing of Mahsa Jina Amini. Iranian shopkeepers, factory workers, truck drivers, teachers, students, and people belonging to various other sectors of society participated in this strike, extending its reach to numerous cities and towns.