For Iranian Americans, Mahsa Amini's death triggers memories of a brutal regime

The 22-year-old's fate has become a rallying call among the diaspora

Sarah Shahi, who was born in the US to Iranian parents, has been vocal in her support of the protests. Pictured in London this week to promote the 'Black Adam' film. Photo: Warner Bros

Shahi at a 'Black Adam' premiere in London on Tuesday. Photo: Warner Bros.

Yara Shahidi has repeatedly drawn attention to the situation in Iran on her Instagram account, where she has more than 7 million followers. AFP

US actress Yara Shahidi, pictured in 2017. EPA

Navid Negahban, who was born in Iran, has posted support in both Farsi and English. Fatima Al Marzooqi / The National

Negahban in between takes while filming a scene during the shooting of the short film '51' at the Central Souk in Abu Dhabi on June 28, 2013. Christopher Pike / The National

Maz Jobrani, a veteran Iranian-American comedian, recently posted a video on Instagram imploring people to care about what is happening in Iran. Photo: Levity Entertainment

As young women and men flood the streets of cities across Iran in the biggest popular protest movement since 2009, prominent Iranian Americans are speaking out in support of the demonstrators.

The death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of Iran's morality police has sparked more than a month of protests that have galvanised Iranians and others around the world. The 22-year-old woman died after being detained for allegedly not wearing her hijab in accordance with the country's strict standards.

“Apparently her appearance wasn't right. So they took her to the prison to re-educate her … She was beaten and she landed in a coma and she died,” Narges Rashidi, an American-German actress who was born in Iran, told The National.

“That is just beyond saddening. I don't know what else to say. I'm speechless and I really, really hope that one day this will stop.”

Following Amini's death, protesters chanted “jin, jiyan, azadi”, which translates to “woman, life, freedom”. It has become a rallying cry for demonstrators worldwide.

The movement has inspired many prominent Iranian-American figures and celebrities to speak out against the government of their ancestral homeland, which is ruled by a religious authority overseen by the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

For many, Amini's death triggered long-buried memories of personal run-ins with the morality police or stories of relatives who have suffered under the regime.

Shirin Behzadi, an Iranian-American businesswomen, recalled being only 15 in Iran when soldiers stopped her and a friend.

“These soldiers stopped us, which they did randomly all the time, separated us, asked us questions. Where we were going? Where we were? Then blindfolded us, put us in a jeep with a bunch of guys with machine guns so we had no idea where we were being taken,” Ms Behzadi told The National.

Ms Behzadi said she was strip searched and held for several hours before being released. The encounter was one of many she had with authorities.

The businesswoman, who fled the country when she was 17, said: “It's really time to speak up for those risking their lives in Iran.”

A protest for Mahsa Amini, a woman who died after being arrested by the Islamic republic's 'morality police', in Tehran. AFP

Demonstrators disperse during the protest for Amini, who died in a hospital in the capital Tehran on Friday. AFP

The crowd chanted 'Death to the dictator', meaning Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while some women took off their headscarves. AFP

A man pulls out a police motorcycle set on fire during the protest. Amini had been detained for violating the country's conservative dress code. AP

In recent months, rights activists have urged women to remove their veils in public, a gesture that would risk their arrest for defying a dress code as the country's rulers crack down on 'immoral behaviour'. AP

Iranians protest in Sanandaj, the capital of Iran's Kurdistan province, following the Amini's death while in custody. AFP

Iranian police officers clash with demonstrators in Tehran. Police said Amini fell into a coma as she waited with other detained women at a morality police station, rejecting allegations that she was probably beaten. AFP

Yeganeh Rezaian, a senior researcher at the Committee to Protect Journalists, described what is happening as a “women-led revolution” that began as a protest against “40 years of gender apartheid”.

Iran no stranger to protests

During the Green Movement of 2009, hundreds of thousands of people rallied in Iran against what they said was the rigged election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. In 2019, demonstrators protested across the country, demanding the removal of leaders as petrol prices soared.

But experts say the current movement, now in its second month, feels different and has been embraced by a broader section of Iranian society.

The group Human Rights Activists in Iran reported that at least 233 people have been killed by security forces since the demonstrations began on September 16.

The UN estimates that 23 children have been killed and has called on Iran to “stop all violence against children”.

Demonstrators chant slogans during the March of Solidarity for Iran in Washington. AFP

Another group of demonstrators at the march. AFP

A protest in support of Iranian women in Barcelona. Reuters

Iranian citizens and locals joined in the Barcelona protest. Reuters

People attend a demonstration in solidarity with Mahsa Amini and other Iranian women in Castello Square, Turin. EPA

A person places a candle during the demonstration in Turin. EPA

A protester holds a pre-Islamic Revolution Iranian flag during a demonstration in Brussels in support of the Iranians fighting for their freedom. AFP

A protester wearing a top with a logo that reads 'No to an Islamic state" as she takes part in a rally in support of the Iranian people, in Brussels. AFP

People wave the Shah-era Iranian flag during a protest in Paris. AFP

A woman shows her true colours in the protest against the Iranian government, in Paris. AFP

A woman holds a flag, as people protest against the Iranian regime outside Iran's embassy in central London. Reuters

Supporters of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) carry placards and wave party flags in Beirut, during a protest against the death of Ms Amini. EPA

People demonstrate against the Iranian government outside the Houses of Parliament in London following the death of Amini. Reuters

A mural in Paris depicts women cutting their hair to show support for Iranian protesters. AP

People take part in a rally against the Iranian government in Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday. AP

Protesters take to the streets of Tehran. EPA

Iranian protesters run after clashing with with police. EPA

A protester shaves their head outside the Houses of Parliament in London. Reuters

Iranians living in Athens hold a protest in solidarity. AFP

People take part in a rally in The Hague. AFP

A woman cuts her hair during a demonstration in Santiago, Chile, by feminist groups and Iranian migrants in support of Iranian women following the death of Amini. AFP

Members of feminist groups and Iranian migrants during the protests in Santiago. AFP

Iranian activists shout slogans during a protest against the government in Tehran, in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. EPA

A protester holds a painted portrait of Mahsa Amini in Berlin, Germany. EPA

A protester shows red paint on her face, resembling blood splatters and bloody handprints next to the national Iranian emblem, during a rally in Berlin. EPA

Iranian protesters shout slogan during a protest in Istanbul, Turkey. EPA

A woman holds a sign during a protest against the Iranian government, in front of the country's embassy in Madrid, Spain. The protests were triggered by the death of a young Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini, in police custody. Reuters

A woman cuts her hair during the protest in front of the Iranian embassy in Madrid. Reuters

Israelis show their support for women in Iran as they hold up placards of Amini during a protest in Jerusalem. EPA

Amini, 22, was arrested in Tehran on September 13, 2022, by the morality police. She fell into a coma while in police custody and was declared dead on September 16. EPA

People walk by graffiti in support of the protests triggered by Amini's death, in Jerusalem. EPA

A protest in Nantes, western France, after the death of Amini in Iranian police custody. AFP

Women gather for a demonstration in Barcelona, Spain. AFP

Demonstrators in Nantes. Amini's death has sparked a global protest movement. AFP

Women protest outside the town hall in in Montpellier, southern France. AFP

A woman at a protest in Catalunya Square, Barcelona. Reuters

Campaigners and football fans protest at a Champions League match between Porto and Bayer Leverkusen at the Dragao stadium in Portugal. EPA

People hold placards during a demonstration in solidarity with the Iranian people near the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. EPA

An Iranian woman living in Turkey with 'Freedom' written on her forehead takes part in a protest near the Iranian consulate in Istanbul. Reuters

In Barcelona, protesters take part in a demonstration in support of Iranian women. AFP

A Lebanese activist takes part in a protest in Beirut, triggered by the death of Amini, 22. AP

A Turkish protester takes off her head scarf while giving a performance in Instanbul during a protest against Iran over Amini's death. Getty

A woman in Istanbul cuts her hair during a protest against Iran. Getty

A Lebanese activist holds a poster depicting Amini during a protest in Beirut organised by feminist groups in support of women protesters in Iran. EPA

Demonstrators in Los Angeles, California, hold the Iranian flag during a protest against the government in Tehran. AFP

Demonstrators hold placards in Mexico City during a protest against Iran. Reuters

People demonstrate in Montreal, Canada, during a protest triggered by Amini's death. AFP

Iranian Americans participate in a rally in central Los Angeles, in solidarity with women in Iran. AP

Demonstrators march during a protest in Los Angeles, California. AFP

A woman with the colours of the Iranian flag painted on her face participates in a rally as thousands demonstrate in support of Iranian women in Los Angeles. EPA

Australians protest over Amini's death in Melbourne. EPA

Police block protesters from entering Iran's embassy in Oslo, Norway. EPA

Demonstrators in front of the European headquarters of the UN in Geneva, Switzerland, during a rally against Iran. EPA

A candlelight vigil for Amini in Los Angeles. AFP

Afghan women hold placards as they take part in a protest in front of the Iranian embassy in Kabul. AFP

Protestors take part in a rally outside the Iranian consulate in Istanbul. AFP

An Iranian woman shows a lock of hair she cut off during a protest outside the Iranian consulate in Istanbul. EPA

Demonstrators outside the Iranian consulate in Istanbul. Getty

Iranian Americans rally on Capitol Hill in Washington to show support for protesters in Iran. AFP

Protesters on Capitol Hill hold a sign condemning the crackdown by Tehran. AFP

German demonstrators gather in Berlin after the death of Amini in Iranian police custody. AP

A protester cries during a rally in Berlin. Reuters

A demonstration in Madrid, Spain. Thousands have gathered in cities across Europe to support protests in Iran. AP

Demonstrators gather outside the Iranian embassy in Madrid. Reuters

People take part in a protest in Lausanne, Switzerland. EPA

Protesters hold signs featuring images of Amini during the protest in the western Swiss city. EPA

Demonstrators in front of the Iranian embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. EPA

An activist outside the Iranian embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with a sign that reads 'Justice for Mahsa Amini'. AFP

A demonstration against violence in Iran is held in Quito, Ecuador. The Iranian community in Ecuador protested outside the Iranian embassy. EPA

Protesters at a demonstration outside the Iranian embassy in Quito, Ecuador. EPA

The movement has triggered a wave of social media hashtags and support.

Actress Sarah Shahi took to Instagram using the hashtag #MahsaAmini to urge world leaders to do something.

“Anyone know how to get a meeting with world leaders?” she asked. “Maybe we can arm wrestle them for change.”

Shahi, who was born in the US to Iranian parents, expressed her love and appreciation for Iranian culture and history, but said she had heard “stories of the tyranny in Iran” since she was young.

The actress, who stars in the recently released superhero film Black Adam, said she felt compelled to speak out for her female relatives.

“I’m going to be the voice of my mother, my mother’s mother and so on,” she wrote in the post.

“I don’t know how much impact it’ll have, I’m not really sure where to start, I’m not exactly sure how to inspire change in this situation. But I’d be disrespecting everything my mother stood for if I didn’t. I stand as one, but I come as many.”

Yara Shahidi, who starred in the popular TV series Black-ish and is currently in the offshoot Grown-ish, has repeatedly referenced the protests through her Instagram account, where she has more than seven million followers.

The actress, whose father is Iranian, recently called attention to the fire in Evin prison, where Iranian authorities say eight people died after an altercation at a sewing workshop. She has also shared video explainers on the movement.

Navid Negahban, who appeared in the popular series Homeland and played the sultan in the 2019 live action version of Aladdin, has posted dozens of times since the start of the movement.

Negahban, who was born in Iran, has posted in both Farsi and English on social media about the protests.

“Women’s rights are human rights,” he posted on October 6. “From Germany to Canada, from Sweden to Chile: we stand with the brave women and men of Iran.”

Maz Jobrani, an Iranian-American comedian, recently posted a video on Instagram imploring people to care about what is happening in Iran.

“The country has been mismanaged and these people are in the streets right now fighting for their freedom, for their rights but mostly for democracy,” he said. “They need our support.”

Prominent Iranian Americans often speak out against the regime but these demonstrations seem to have inspired an unusual level of support.

“This time around, it has been on an even bigger scale, because the movement has been longer and the longer it takes, the more people have come out to declare solidarity,” said Arash Azizi, a historian at New York University, who published a book on the former head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Maj Gen Qassem Suleimani.

At this point in the movement, these prominent figures are helping to keep a conversation going on what is transpiring in Iran and that, Mr Azizi said, is desperately needed.

“It's important because it raises awareness,” he said.

With additional reporting by Chris Newbould