Reza Pahlavi Rally in Düsseldorf: Global Demonstrations Mark Mahsa Amini Anniversary and Call for a Free Iran
Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement
Mahsa Amini’s death occurred on September 16, 2022.
She had been detained in Tehran by Iran’s morality police over allegations concerning compulsory hijab rules. She subsequently died in hospital.
Her family rejected official explanations concerning her death, and images and reports surrounding her hospitalization generated widespread public anger.
Within days, protests spread across Iran.
The slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom”, derived from the Kurdish phrase “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi,” became the defining slogan of the movement.
The protests brought together people from different generations and social backgrounds. Women removed compulsory head coverings in public spaces. University students demonstrated on campuses. Workers and professionals participated in strikes and protests. Iranian Kurds played a particularly visible role because of Amini’s Kurdish background.
The movement also produced a new international image of Iranian women and young people confronting state restrictions.
For the Iranian diaspora, September became an annual period of remembrance.
The planned 2026 demonstrations are being organized in this context.
September 5, 2026 | 4:50 pm
