Women Are Rising Up Against Brutality in Iran

The brutal death of a 22-year-old woman, Ms. Mahsa Amini, while in custody of Iran's "morality police" has triggered a remarkable moment of defiance in the Iranian population. Ms. Amini was 22 years old and died after being arrested in Tehran on Sept. 13 after being accused of violating the country’s dress codes by not covering her hair according to the government standards. For three days, she was under the custody of the so-called “morality police”, which advocated the country’s regulation on hijabs and other covering of dress. At the detention center the young woman was severely beaten for three days, collapsed and fell into a coma and hence died later on. Since then, the protests have begun and thousands of Iranians are on the streets demanding justice for Ms. Amini. Women are burning their head coverings and cutting their hair. The protests have reported several injuries, arrests and 17 deaths so far.
As Muslims, we were shocked to watch the barbaric assault of Ms. Amini by Iran’s Morality Police. Islam does not endorse the approach of a “morality police” that goes around looking for “hair covering issues”. It is beyond comprehension that there is some sort of ‘police’ committing these inhumane acts on just hair showing out of the scarf. Islam recommends a head covering for a woman however, it has not been mentioned in the Holy Quran that a woman should be beaten to death if she chooses not to do it. Islam does not force hijab on women. It is a choice, as simple as that. Was it necessary to take it this far? As stated in the Holy Quran, “There is no compulsion in religion” (2:257). Men should remember that they have not been given powers to police women; rather, they should restrain themselves. In another verse of the Holy Quran, men are commanded to restrain their eyes first, they should fulfill their own obligations (24:31). It is not their duty to cover the heads of other women. Therefore, let’s stop obsessing over women and worry about reforming ourselves.
Over in India, Muslims desire to wear the hijab but they are not allowed to. Whether it’s Iranians fighting for their right not to wear the hijab or it’s Indians fighting for their right to wear one, both send the same message- they are fighting for their right to choose, the real teaching in Islam. Politics should be separated from each individual’s spirituality. Everyone should have their own religious progress and then choose what to do for their Lord; the powers of the government have no right to interfere. They give the world a bad image of Islam by corrupting its teachings. To spread the information that this news in Iran does not represent the peaceful religion of Islam, is our job as Muslims. To reiterate, politics should not force things that are different for each person, such as, wearing the hijab or not.