09.11.2022 Statement on the protests in Iran

Following the violent death of Jina Emini (Mahsa Amini), a 22-year-old Kurdish and Iranian woman, who was arrested by Iran's morality police on September 13, 2022, for allegedly wearing the wrong headscarf and who died in hospital on September 16, protesters in Iran and around the world are taking to the streets.

There is almost no headscarf-wearing person in Iran who has never been forced to confront the morality police, and hardly any Iranians who have not been affected by the regime's violence. For decades, the people of Iran have been humiliated and oppressed by those in power. In particular, women and people who do not locate themselves in the normative bisexuality are denied the right to self-determination or existence. People who oppose the regime, who do not adhere to the dress or behavior regulations, are threatened with several years in prison, torture, and even whippings and stonings.

Together and courageously, Iranians are now publicly standing against the oppressive regime and against patriarchal, queer-hostile and racist violence. The protests in Iran are a sign of hopelessness, but also of courage and again hope. Again and again, demonstrators are brutally put down by state violence, and again and again they rebel against that violence.

From October 2 to 3, Iranian police surrounded students and staff of Sharif University in Tehran in the university buildings because they were protesting on campus. The professors stood protectively in front of the students and were subsequently beaten up. The students are sending cries for help to universities abroad.

As Center for interdisciplinary research on religion, we stand for free education and against sexism, queer hostility and racism. Therefore, we declare our solidarity with the protesters in Iran and Sharif University. In a place where critical thinking should and must be taught and promoted, people must not be murdered because of their criticism!

Baraye Khoharam!
Baraye Khoharat!
Baraye Khoharemun!
Baraye Azadi!

For my sisters!
For your sisters!
For our sisters!
For freedom!

Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Religion
Zentrum für interdisziplinäre Religionsforschung

Here you can also find an open letter from more than 350 (as of 07.10.) scientists from German, Austrian and Swiss universities and research institutions (initiated by colleagues from Marburg, among others).