Inside Iran: What Happened to Iran’s Women-led Uprising?

Summary

This video script recounts the tense experience of a film crew in Iran, who faced an abrupt end to their filming after being detained by Iran's Security Forces. The narrative delves into the country's ongoing protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, arrested for violating the dress code. It highlights the regime's brutal crackdown on dissent, the defiance of Iranian women, and the challenges faced by journalists trying to report the truth amidst restrictions and threats. The story underscores the struggle for freedom and the regime's attempts to silence its own people.

Takeaways

• 😷 The crew experienced an abrupt end to their filming in Iran due to being detained by individuals claiming to be from Iran's Security Forces, who confiscated their belongings and footage.
• 🚨 After a tense 18-hour detention, the crew was released with only their phones and instructed to leave the country, highlighting the strict control over foreign media in Iran.
• 🔥 The script describes widespread protests in Iran, ignited by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for violating the country's dress code and died in custody.
• 👥 The Iranian regime responded to the protests with brute force, leading to mass arrests, killings, and executions, with security forces also suffering casualties.
• 📹 The first US TV crew since the unrest was allowed into Iran with rare visas granted by the regime, indicating some level of openness but with significant restrictions.
• 🏠 Businesses and cafes were shut down by authorities in an attempt to suppress the protests, particularly those that allowed women not wearing hijabs.
• 👮‍♂️ The crew faced immediate police attention upon arrival in areas of unrest, with authorities quickly moving to control the narrative and restrict access.
• 📚 At the Tehran International Book Fair, the crew discovered that all books had to be government-approved, reflecting the regime's control over information and culture.
• 🤔 The script includes a conversation with a cleric who believes Western media influences women's choices, suggesting a belief in the regime's narrative about external influences on Iranian society.
• 👩‍🎓 Iranian students described being forced to adhere to strict dress codes and sign pledges not to protest, indicating the regime's efforts to control youth and suppress dissent.
• 📝 Journalists in Iran face severe repercussions for their work, with some arrested and sentenced to long prison terms for reporting on events like Mahsa Amini's death.

Q & A

What happened to the journalists while they were in Iran?

The journalists were detained by Iran Security Forces, had their equipment and footage confiscated, and were instructed to leave the country with only their phones.

What sparked the recent mass protests in Iran?

The protests were sparked by the death of 22-year-old Masa Amini, who died after being allegedly beaten by Iran's morality police for violating the country's strict dress code.

How did the Iranian regime respond to the protests?

The regime responded with a brutal crackdown, detaining tens of thousands, killing hundreds, executing several protesters, and targeting security officers.

What restrictions did the journalists face while filming in Iran?

They were only allowed to visit pre-approved locations and were constantly monitored by authorities, who insisted on deleting some of their footage and limited their interactions with locals.

What is the significance of the city of Qom in Iran?

Qom is one of the holiest cities in Iran and a center for the clerical establishment, which has significant influence and power within the Iranian regime.

What kind of influence does the clerical establishment have in Iran?

The clerical establishment has a huge amount of influence and power, and is a central figure in the current regime, having ruled over Iran since the Islamic Revolution.

How are children being influenced by the regime?

Organizations like the Basij train young children in Islamic values and the operational norms of the regime, aiming to perpetuate the current system.

What challenges do journalists face when reporting in Iran?

Journalists face severe restrictions, constant surveillance, risk of detention, and the challenge of having their work censored or deleted by authorities.

What actions have been taken against journalists and media in Iran since the protests?

Around 100 journalists have been arrested, with those who reported on Masa Amini's death receiving long prison sentences.

What new legislation has been passed in Iran regarding the hijab?

Iran's Parliament passed a new hijab bill, imposing up to 10 years in prison for those dressed inappropriately, and the morality police have reportedly returned to the streets.

Outlines

00:00

😨 Abrupt End in Iran

The video crew experienced a sudden end to their filming in Iran after being detained by Iran's Security Forces. Their phones, personal belongings, and camera gear were confiscated, and they were held for 18 hours before being ordered to leave the country with only their phones. The experience was extremely stressful, highlighting the oppressive environment in Iran. The video transitions into discussing the ongoing protests in Iran, sparked by the death of 22-year-old Masa Amini after being detained by the morality police for allegedly violating the country's dress code.

05:01

🚔 Police Suppression and Protest Footage

The crew arrived in Iran with rare visas, intending to cover the protests. They visited neighborhoods central to the protests and encountered police repression firsthand. They were detained, and some footage was deleted by the police. Despite the heavy police presence, the crew continued to document the unrest, capturing the chants of protest that filled Tehran at night. Their movements were restricted to pre-approved locations, emphasizing the regime's control over media coverage.

10:02

📚 Government-Controlled Media and Dress Code Enforcement

At an international book fair, the crew learned that all exhibited books must be government-approved. They interviewed a cleric who insisted that the Islamic dress code is influenced by Western media and emphasized the government's strict control over women's attire. The regime's influence extends to all aspects of public life, including education, where students face severe consequences for non-compliance with the dress code and other regulations.

15:04

🔫 Brutal Crackdowns and Student Repression

Students and young people shared their experiences of repression, including being forced to sign pledges to adhere to strict codes and facing violence from security forces. A teenager recounted being shot at without provocation. The crew visited a religious city where they observed the deep-rooted power of the clerical establishment. The ongoing protests have targeted this establishment, leading to brutal crackdowns with thousands arrested and hundreds killed or tortured.

20:06

📸 Journalism Under Threat

The crew interviewed Yalda Mari, a photojournalist arrested multiple times for her work documenting the regime's repression. She shared her harrowing experiences, including solitary confinement and ongoing legal battles. The regime's crackdown on media aims to prevent the truth from being exposed. Despite the risks, journalists continue to document the harsh realities faced by the Iranian people.

25:07

🚔 State-Controlled Narrative and Brutal Repression

The crew met with the Vice President for Women's Affairs, questioning her about the repression against women and the death of Masa Amini. The regime's narrative blames Western influence for unrest, denying responsibility for violence against protesters. The vice president defended the hijab law, reflecting the regime's resistance to change despite widespread protests. The crew's detention and expulsion from Iran underscored the regime's fear of losing control over the narrative and the brutal methods used to maintain power. Recently, new laws have been passed, increasing penalties for dress code violations, showing the regime's ongoing efforts to suppress dissent.

Keywords

💡Hijab

The hijab is a head covering worn by Muslim women as a symbol of modesty and religious observance. In the context of the video, it represents a significant point of contention within Iranian society, as the government enforces a strict dress code that has sparked protests and defiance. The script mentions women burning their hijabs and businesses being targeted for allowing women to enter without them, illustrating the depth of the cultural and political conflict.

💡Morality Police

The morality police in Iran are a law enforcement unit tasked with ensuring public adherence to the country's Islamic dress code and social behavior. The video script refers to the arrest of Mahsa Amini by the morality police for allegedly violating the dress code, which led to her death and subsequent mass protests. This term is central to understanding the oppressive measures taken by the Iranian regime against its citizens.

💡Protests

Protests are public demonstrations expressing objection to government policies or actions. The video's theme revolves around the mass protests that erupted across Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini. The script describes women cutting their hair and storming the streets in rage, as well as the regime's brutal response, which included mass arrests, killings, and executions.

💡Clerical Establishment

The clerical establishment in Iran refers to the religious leaders and authorities who hold significant power within the country's theocratic government. The script mentions the anger directed towards this group due to their long-standing rule since the Islamic Revolution and their perceived role in perpetuating oppressive policies, such as the enforcement of the hijab.

💡Reformist

A reformist is someone who advocates for changes within a political or social system. In the video, a self-proclaimed reformist cleric is mentioned, who challenges the current government's legitimacy and supports reforms, indicating a division within the religious elite and the potential for change within Iran's political landscape.

💡Security Forces

Security forces are military or police units responsible for maintaining order and enforcing laws. The script describes an encounter with Iran's security forces who detained the crew, confiscated their belongings, and ultimately expelled them from the country. This highlights the regime's efforts to control information and suppress dissent.

💡Detention Center

A detention center is a facility where people are held in custody, often awaiting trial or legal proceedings. The video script recounts the story of Mahsa Amini, who was taken to a detention center by the morality police and allegedly beaten, leading to her death. This term is key to understanding the human rights abuses occurring within Iran's law enforcement system.

💡Crackdown

A crackdown refers to the rigorous enforcement of laws or regulations, often involving harsh measures. The script details a brutal crackdown by the Iranian regime in response to protests, including mass arrests, beatings, torture, and executions. This term encapsulates the regime's approach to suppressing dissent and maintaining control.

💡Journalist

A journalist is a professional who researches, writes, and reports news stories. The video script includes accounts of journalists being arrested and imprisoned for their work, such as photojournalist Yalda Mari, illustrating the regime's efforts to control the narrative and suppress freedom of the press.

💡Minister of Women's Affairs

The Minister of Women's Affairs is a government official responsible for addressing issues related to women's rights and well-being. The script features an interview with Iran's Minister of Women's Affairs, who defends the hijab law and the regime's actions, raising questions about the role of such a position in a government that is accused of repressing women's rights.

💡Execution

Execution refers to the act of carrying out a sentence of death as a form of capital punishment. The video script mentions several protesters who have been executed, highlighting the extreme measures taken by the Iranian regime to quell dissent and the severity of the consequences faced by those participating in protests.

Highlights

Journalists detained by Iran Security Forces and had their equipment confiscated.

Masa Amini's arrest and death by morality police sparked widespread protests.

Women defied the hijab mandate by burning hijabs and cutting their hair.

Security forces responded to protests with brute force, detaining thousands and killing hundreds.

US TV crew received rare visas to operate in Iran amidst the unrest.

Authorities cracked down on businesses allowing women without hijabs.

Police immediately intervened during interviews with locals about protests.

Permissions to film in Iran came with restrictions to pre-approved locations.

International Book Fair in Tehran showcased only government-approved books.

Iranian authorities used harsh methods to enforce dress code in schools and universities.

Security forces fired on teenage protestors, causing severe injuries.

Religious clerics in Qom hold significant influence within the Iranian regime.

Some clerics face public anger, calling for an end to the clerical establishment.

Journalists and media facing severe repression, with many arrested and tortured.

Vice President Kazali defends hijab laws despite evidence of brutality against women.

A new hijab bill passed, imposing severe penalties for non-compliance.

Transcripts

so we've just had a pretty abrupt ending

to our time filming here in Iran the

yesterday we were leaving the hotel when

we were jobed on by eight guys who told

us they were with Iran Security Forces

um they took our phones they pointed a

gun in our heads they took all our

personal belongings they took all our

camera gear they took all our footage um

they then took us back to a hotel room

um well we've been for the last 18 hours

or

so they have allowed us or in fact

they've told us to leave the country now

with our phones only they've kept our

computers they've kept everything

else it has been the most stressful 24

hours and I honestly am so relieved to

be getting out of

[Music]

here the Islamic Republic of Iran is no

stranger to popular uprisings but the

demonstrations sweeping the country

today are

different last September 22-year-old

Masa amini was arrested by Iran's

morality police she was accused of

violating the country's strict dress

code and taken to a Detention Center

where she was allegedly beaten she died

soon

after that sparked outrage and months of

mass protests erupted across

Iran

[Music]

women burned their hijabs cut their hair

and stormed the streets in Rage the

regime responded with Brute Force

detaining tens of thousands killing

hundreds and executing seven several

dozen security officers were also killed

in the

clashes

[Music]

one week before our detention we arrived

in Iran we're the first US TV crew to be

here since the chaos first broke

out we are here in Iran I can't quite

believe it but we have been given very

rare visas to come and operate here by

the Iranian

regime so we're just driving towards a

neighborhood in tan that's been at the

center of some of these protests over

the last few months this neighborhood

has been a gathering point for young

people rebelling against the system

including five girls who posted this

viral video of themselves dancing

uncovered they were later

arrested so you can see a bunch of these

restaurants and cafes have been shut

down recently by the authorities in a

very clear concerted effort to close

down shop cafes restaurants businesses

that are allowing women who are not

wearing hijabs to enter so they're

actually targeting the businesses

themselves but you can see despite that

a lot of women around here are still

walking around completely uncovered in a

very very clear sign of defiance against

the authorities

demands do you mind having a chat with

us do you know what happened around

here can you tell

me

why is it you're worried about showing

your

[Music]

face he was right as soon as he started

talking the police arrived to St us as

Vice huh why is Farm rare

America

[Music]

we've been here for 2 minutes and the

police have already surrounded

us the police have asked for us to leave

this area because there's a protest

that's about to start in a few minutes

and they definitely do not want us

seeing

that we were taken to the roadside and

detained for several hours till night

fell we deleting

it more police arrived are we not

allowed to be

here so we've finally been Let Go by the

police after a couple of hours hours

they insisted on deleting some of our

footage and we're now just driving

around the city because we've heard that

there are protests happening and it's

some very strong police presence around

the city right now can see a bunch of

Riot police on the corner we think that

we're being followed so we can't

actually get out of the car to see

what's going

[Music]

on later that night chants of protest

came ringing out through Teran

[Music]

it quickly became apparent that our

permissions to be here came with

restrictions we could only visit places

pre-approved by Iran's media Wing Tan's

International book fair was deemed

uncontroversial enough for us to attend

but as soon as we arrived we were told

by a passing stranger that all the books

that they and we saw must now be

government approved we're choosing not

to show his face you know the current

situation is so terrible right now has

the type of books that are being sold

here and being showcased here changed

yeah yeah of course in what way the way

that some some Publishers are not

allowed to to exhibit their books here

why is that because of

political measures they been

limited one of the conditions of people

coming here is that women are dressed

correctly so this here right at the

entrance of the event is the center for

advising women on how to wear the hijab

and what could go wrong if you

don't what is your role here we are

speaking about their questions about why

we have this if we are Muslim why should

we have this if they are somebody who

are not Muslim they why why they should

have this uhhuh I am here to speak with

the teenagers with the young people to

tell to them think about my speaking

think about what I say to you so you're

trying to influence them yes yes yes and

now the

media those media who don't want our

country don't want our

say and say and tell and tell about your

woman don't shouldn't have this this is

not Freedom so you think that it's

Western media that is influencing women

of course it is of course it is you know

it's nothing to do with the fact that

some women might choose not to wear a

head scar very little you know very

little some women you know um Iranian

people the the problem of Iranian people

is not Islam but the medas don't want

Islam you know your problem is this is

scar no Amma Islamic revolution because

we love Islam and Islam is whatever God

say to us not whatever I want you want

whatever you want whatever she want

whatever you know so there shouldn't be

that personal freedom of choice just

choice in the in the limit of Islam

whatever God let us right what is it

that you came here for

today

and do you feel convinced by the

conversation that you've been having

today yes yes will you change your

behaviors or what you wear at all I

don't want to change her behavior I

don't want her I want her to

[Music]

teach

you're going to stop us yes

[Music]

why it was just getting

interesting we are Iranian all of

Iranian are interesting you know yeah

it's a very interesting

conversation but more and more Iranians

are

resisting throughout our time a handful

of young Brave individuals decided to

talk to us we're hiding their

identities they told us about the

security forces harsh crackdowns which

have since expanded to schools and

universities very it was protest they

don't let us go to the classes without

scar they fired a lot of our friends

they fired them from doormats they they

don't have anywhere to sleep everything

is a crime doesn't matter what it is is

you can drink you can shake handy girls

you can you can't do anything students

told us they were forced to sign a

pledge saying that they would adhere to

the dress code that they wouldn't sit

next to those of the opposite sex and

that they wouldn't protest signing a

pledge is not losing anything it's just

that we can't defeat them right now I

think our generation is going

to overcome the system of

eventually just not right

now violence they told us had been used

to silence them one teenager told me how

Security Forces had opened fire on her

we were at the park and they just shoot

at us without no reason we're just

sitting we didn't do anything were you

badly hit yeah it's it's really hard I I

think I think uh I'm in danger she

showed me several rubber bullet wounds

scattered across her

body the next day we left the capital

and traveled to K to try and get a taste

for how the religious sex of the country

[Music]

felt this is a very different sight to

what we've been seeing online recently

all these people have come to the city

of pal which is one of the holiest

cities in IR to come show their respect

for their

religion

this is where a lot of the clerical

establishment are based and these

clerics here have a huge amount of

influence a huge amount of power within

the Iranian regime so if any change

happens it's very likely to start right

here much of the country's public anger

over the last year is directed towards

the all powerful clerical establishment

who sat in power for over four decades

since the Islamic

revolution this anger reached a boiling

point last year when religious clerics

were attacked their turbin tossed from

their heads in a sign of resentment

towards the Theocratic system that rules

over the Iranian people these recent

protests demanding changes have led to a

brutal Crackdown there's been tens of

thousands of people have been arrested

there's been hundreds of people who have

been killed hundreds more have been

beaten been tortured do you not think

that if clerics like yourself condemned

that kind of behavior from this regime

that that would make a big impact on

society

these are figures that come from the UN

these are figures that come from outside

monitoring group these are figures that

come from Human Rights

organizations so you don't think that

there's been any violence towards

[Music]

protesters it sounds like you stand 100%

by the regime by the government it

sounds like you don't really want

anything to

change but not all clerics are aligned

we met up with Muhammad tagi fazel mbodi

a self-proclaimed reformist cleric who

challenges the current government by

questioning their

legitimacy you know I wasn't expecting a

religious cleric in Iran to let me ride

around with you and let you be seen

without any of your clothing

on so when you drive around town you

normally don't wear your clerical

clothing are there more and more clerics

recently taking their clothes off given

the amount of backlash and the amount of

anger towards you

guys I mean obviously you get to choose

whether you put on or take off your

clerical clothing right women don't get

to choose in fact a lot of women are

very angry that it's clerics like

yourself who are dictating what women

should and shouldn't wear why is

that

some of the protesters have called for

an end to the clerical establishment

which is you guys right how does that

make you

feel

[Music]

foree

the cler says he supports reforms which

shows a division of opinions within the

religious Elite but he ultimately warns

against a complete overhaul of the

current

system so these young kids here who are

about to perform have been trained by

the guy in the white shirt who's a

member of the besiege which is part of

the security apparatus they have been

extremely involved in the brutal

Crackdown of protesters and part of

their mission is to train young

kids to get to know Islam to get to know

how to operate in Iran in the hopes that

this country can continue in the vein

that it's going

today

masah

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

m

what does it mean to be a

b how do you recruit all these

[Music]

[Music]

kids is the hope that these guys grow up

to to become

[Music]

beses do any of you guys plan to be

members of the B when you grow

up

[Music]

why these Young Voices show how the

Islamic Republic influences the Next

Generation but to do that successfully

any criticism of the regime must be

silenced since the latest Uprising

around a 100 journalists have been

arrested those who broke the news about

Massa amini's death was sentenced to 12

and 13 years in

prison yalda Mari is a photojournalist

who's been arrested at least six

times so when was this photo

taken 16 years ago it was at the first

days that uh Gad started to work they

wanted

to put this woman to police station to

talk with them or know sign a paper or

something but these women were very

scary about it so these are two women

being arrested for not wearing their

head scarves properly yeah

this is another one this woman is a

police officer what is she taking them

in

for for a job for bad you know wearing

and these things so

for improper

clothing I recognize this photo I've

seen it around when was this photo taken

5 years ago and what was happening here

it was a

demonstration in Tan University this is

inside the University

and she's a

protester yeah this has changed my life

forever so this photo that was taken

years ago is still causing you problems

today yeah a lot

of they have problems with the

journalistic issues they have problems

with everything that you want to inform

people um they are against all of this

mhm they are against media they are you

know against people know their reality

they are against the

reality so these are the documents that

you have from your court

cases so the case is open yeah the case

is open uh-huh and it it's not going to

be closed for another 5 years no no so

you're under watch basically yeah this

is exactly what they wanted what was

your crime taking picture just taking

photos yeah but you know what they wrote

on the paper

was and how long did you spend in prison

this time around uh 92 days 92 60 days

in

public uh prison and 32 days in Solarity

solitary confinement how was

that it was very tough you think that

you are really going to be

mad yeah there is nothing

there nobody's

there what kind of thoughts were you

having it was like a hell I really

wanted to kill

myself do you think there will be

consequ consquences for you in talking

to

us y m put on a brave face but the

system she's up against is a well-oiled

machine we requested multiple interviews

with senior members of President Ibrahim

ri's government eventually we were

granted a meeting with one of his vice

presidents as the only female member of

the current government n kazali is the

Minister of women's

Affairs there are pretty strict laws in

place including the hijab law why is

that necessary why can't women have that

freedom of choice

amini who's a 22y old woman who was

taken in by the morality police for

having too much of her hair showing and

later died in police custody was killed

by the authorities is that not something

that you

[Music]

admit

for after mounting pressure the

authorities released a clipped CCTV

video showing Masa amini collapsing in

the Detention Center proof they say that

she died from a heart attack but amini's

family say she had no pre-existing heart

conditions and Witnesses reportedly saw

her being badly beaten just before this

the only investigation to have come out

of this was done by The Authority

themselves which is I mean essentially

like a murderer investigating

themselves

yes I think the the problem is that the

only people who have actually done any

investigation is

yourself isn't it hypocritical of you

that you claim to be representing

women's rights and yet Your Role is

really part of this repression against

them

well it's very difficult to know because

this is not a democracy and therefore

the figures are extremely hard to know

but I would say that you know this seems

like the biggest challenge or one of the

biggest challenges to the Islamic regime

in the last few

decades I know that you know that the

scale of what's happened here is

enormous it is one of the biggest

challenges to the Islamic Republic over

the last few decades

does it not make you think for a moment

that you know maybe some of your ideas

could be outdated and that that are you

know a lot of young people in Iran who

who do want to see

[Music]

change

in response to these protests there has

been a brutal widespread Crackdown

that's been pretty Relentless there's

been tens of thousands of protesters

arrested according to the state figures

there's also been hundreds that have

been beaten and tortured hundreds more

who have been killed there's reports of

sexual assault within the prisons

themselves

several protesters have been executed

several more are sitting on death row

why why such a brutal

Crackdown okay it seems like we're

talking from polar opposite realities I

guess you know this is one of the

hardest places I've ever worked as a

journalist you know we are followed

everywhere the police stop us from

talking to anyone a lot of other people

are terrified to speak with us as they

rightly should be why are you making it

so difficult for journalists to report

the

truth just one day after our

conversation with the vice president was

when we found our van suddenly

surrounded by a team of Iran's Security

Forces a gun was held to our head and

everything was taken from

us later that night while in detention

they told us they suspected we were

working under false

pretenses the next day we were

instructed to leave the

country it was an Abrupt end to our time

in Iran a stark reminder that freedom

and Truth are so far from reach here and

that the regime's power and

vulnerability lies in their ability to

silence voices most disturbingly of

their own

people since we left the country Iran's

Parliament has passed a new hijab Bill

where those dressed inappropriately now

face up to 10 years in prison Iran's

Infamous morality police are reportedly

back on the

streets just recently 16-year-old gavand

died from the same afflictions as Masa

amini just one year

later