About 250 People gathered last Saturday, the 29. October in front of the Kassel town hall for a rally in solidarity with the ongoing protests in Iran. The reason was 40. Todestag der Kurdin Jîna bzw. Mahsa Amini. Because she allegedly didn't wear her headscarf properly, She was arrested by the “moral police” and died a short time later.
a guest article by Marlene Lauter
The traditional mourning period after the death of a family member lasts in Iran 40 Days. These passed last week. That's why a rally took place in Kassel at the weekend. Many posters and signs said Mahsa - her Kurdish name is Jîna - Amînî. In several speeches in Farsi, partly with German translation, the many different speakers accused the repressive Iranian regime.
The atmosphere during the slogans and speeches was heated and angry. Many remembered their relatives and friends in Iran, who are currently taking to the streets there every day and sometimes losing their lives in fights with the police.
Also the city councilor from the Left Party, Violetta Bock, expressed their solidarity against the protests. She reported about it, that the LEFT is planning, to pass a resolution together with as many political groups as possible, in order to send a sign of solidarity from city politics. The proposal received warm applause, but the loudest cries of protest still remained the same: „Jin, The life, Liberty", Kurdish for “women, life, Freedom". This is also noticeable, that a feminist uprising is currently taking place in Iran.
Because there were also some supporters among those present 1979 of the Shah who was overthrown in the Islamic revolution and showed his flag, In the meantime there was a brief verbal argument. A speaker then made it clear, that it's not about that, what can be seen on the Iranian flag, but about the people of Iran. For this she received clear support from the audience, who agreed with her with applause and loud shouts.
Most recently, a speaker called on the demonstrators in Kassel, to become even louder:
“Nothing else matters, as attention! We need your eyes, your ears and your mouth!“
An appeal, which was addressed to everyone; all exiled Iranians, all Kurds, all comrades.