Iran's Supreme Leader Speaks Out on Hijab Protests: "Plans of the United States and Israel"

First Statement After Over Two Weeks of Protests
Human Rights Groups Claim at Least 133 Protesters Dead
Anti-Government Protests on Campuses Coincide with Border Region Unrest

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who had remained silent about the protests in Iran, has issued his first statement. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] Protests have continued for more than two weeks across Iran following the suspicious death of a woman in her 20s who was not wearing a hijab. Over 100 casualties have resulted from these protests, and Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, who had remained silent, has finally issued a statement.

According to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency on the 3rd (local time), Khamenei said in a speech at a military event, "Anyone who is smart would know that there are forces behind the protests in Iran," pointing to 'external forces.' He added that the United States and Israel are fomenting this unrest to hinder Iran's progress and have previously conspired in similar plots.

◆ Iran Protests Escalate from 'Fact-Finding' to Anti-Government Demonstrations

The protests spreading throughout Iran began with the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. Amini, who visited Tehran, the capital of Iran, with her family on the 13th of last month, was detained by police for wearing a loosely fitted hijab that exposed her hair and died under suspicious circumstances three days later. Protests demanding fact-finding and opposing the forced hijab wearing have escalated into anti-government demonstrations.

The protests of Iranian women cutting their hair have spread worldwide. Women in the Middle East, Europe, the United States, and various parts of the world have publicly cut their hair in solidarity. Photo by Yonhap News

In particular, Iranian women have demanded an investigation into Amini's death, but as the government remained unresponsive, they expressed their anger by cutting their hair and participating in protests condemning the government. Under Islamic law, a woman's long hair symbolizes beauty and must be covered by a hijab. Cutting hair is interpreted as a strong act of protest and represents women's opposition to the current government.

The short-hair protests by Iranian women have spread worldwide. Women in the Middle East, Europe, the United States, and other parts of the world have publicly cut their hair in solidarity.

Supreme Leader Khamenei emphasized, "It is true that the death of a young woman has pained our hearts, but tearing the hijab and burning the Quran (Islamic scripture) without evidence is clearly abnormal."

He continued, "The police have the duty to ensure social safety against crime, and those who attack the police cannot be tolerated," justifying the authorities' crackdown on protesters.

According to Iran Human Rights (IHR), a human rights organization based in Norway, at least 133 people have died in the protests. IHR stated that the Iranian authorities' internet shutdown makes it difficult to accurately count the number of deaths.

◆ Harsh Crackdown on Campus Protests

Despite the numerous deaths, Iranian authorities continue to enforce a harsh crackdown. Especially in Tehran, the capital, confrontations between anti-government protesters, mainly university students, and police have been consistently observed.

According to major foreign media reports, police have been forcibly dispersing students by firing tear gas to push them off campuses. Similar scenes have occurred not only in Tehran but also on university campuses in major Iranian cities such as Sanandaj and Shiraz.

In border regions, violent protests by Arab ethnic minorities have also erupted, increasing the Iranian government's sense of crisis.

State-run IRNA reported that in Zahedan, the central city of Sistan-va-Baluchestan Province in southeastern Iran, and nearby areas, clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces have continued since the 30th of last month, resulting in the deaths of five members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and militias, with 32 injured. Casualty figures among protesters are unknown. At the end of last month, protesters reportedly attacked a police station, killing a commander of the Revolutionary Guard's intelligence unit.

Senior Iranian officials have labeled the current anti-government protests as "aiming to topple the government" and have called for even stronger crackdowns. On the 3rd, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Parliament, said in a parliamentary speech, "Unlike past protests demanding reform and improvement, it is clear that these protests aim to collapse the government," urging for a strong crackdown.

Meanwhile, starting October 3rd (local time), university students gathered at major universities such as Tehran University to protest against the government. In response, authorities switched major university classes to online to prevent students from gathering.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.