Shopkeepers and factory workers went on strike in Iran on Saturday. These were nation wide women-led protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini while she was in custody for violating Iran's dress code of women. This marks the sixth week of protests and rallies held in her name. Women have been protesting in Iran by "removing their headscarves, chanting anti-government slogans and confronting the security forces". These human rights protests have led to nation wide crackdowns that human rights activists say have killed at least 122 people. Protests have been taking place in universities across the country as well as in Amini's hometown where her burial spared anger and resentment in the community. In fact, protests have been held all over the world in response to Amino's death and in solidarity with the protests in Iran. The government in Iran has accused the US of using these protests to "gain concessions in talks with aimed at restoring the 2015 nuclear arms deal. At a rally in solidarity in Berlin, protesters were calling for democratic governments "to stop negotiating with the criminal state called the Islamic Republic", and Iranian human rights activities called for the explosion of Iran's ambassadors. Even though the Iranian government is saying these protests are coming to an end, it is likely that they will not for some time.
By: Sarah Hein
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