TRANSCRIPT
In September 2022, Mahsa Jina Amini was taken to a so-called morality classroom in Iran.
CCTV footage release by Iranian authorities shows her collapse to the floor. She was taken to a hospital, where she died days later.
Authorities claim she suffered from an underlying health condition, but eyewitnesses say she was beaten while inside a police van, and slipped into a coma.
This is Sara Hossain, the Chair of the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran.
"We found in an analysis of the medical documentation that we were able to obtain, that there were significant injuries to her body and we did make a finding that she had died unlawfully."
Her death saw thousands take to the streets in solidarity - chanting ‘Zan, Zendegi, Azadi’ sparking the Woman, Life, Freedom movement - demanding women’s rights and regime change.
We met with a protester who says she was threatened by an offshoot of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard in Iran …. and has since moved to Australia.
We have protected her identity and changed her voice as she fears repercussions.
"From the first day to the last [day of our life], we lived in fear in that country, the fear of assault and rape is a common thing that an Iranian woman experiences on the street every day."
She says while protesting she was threatened at gunpoint, to cover her head.
"I am worried about my friends, Iranian girls are fighting this system every day. [[butt]] Mahsa was a human being for me, like many of us who had the same experience. More than a symbol [[butt]] Mahsa was not killed alone, we were all killed once with Mahsa Amini."
Since the Zan, Zendegi, Azadi uprising at least 537 protesters have been killed and more than 19,000 arrested.
According to Amnesty International, executions in Iran are increasing... last year recording at least 853 - the highest number in eight years.
This is the Australia director at Human Rights Watch, Daniela Gavshon.
"The level of oppression remains very high, we are seeing two things primarily, one is the re-arrest of protesters who were previously arrested and freed - and the other thing we are seeing is the arrest of family members of people who have died in protests previously and are now demanding accountability."
Activists say they won’t give up.
"All this made us realise that we have nothing to lose, maybe our next generation can have a better life; This was the main reason why we went to the street."
The memory of Mahsa Jina Amini, sustaining the fight for freedom and justice.
