32 minutes | Monday, 23 January 2023
Iran is in turmoil - but this time it is different. It is different in the most significant fact that the turmoil, the demonstrations, the civil defiance has been led by Iranian women, very brave, and very courageous – mainly young - women, triggered by the arrest, by the so-called “morality police”, of a 22 year old Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini, who was on a trip to Tehran, for not wearing her hijab properly.
She was taken away and died in police custody. Her death unleashed years of pent-up frustration and anger, met by the customary violence and brutality from the authorities against the civilian population across the country.
Michael McKay's guest has asked to be referred to as “Leila”, concealing her own name because she has family in Iran. Anonymity is prudent.