Mahsa Amini facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mahsa Amini
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Mahsa Amini a few moments before arrest
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| Born | September 21, 1999 Saqqez, Iran
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| Died | (aged 22) Tehran, Iran
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| Resting place | Aychi Cemetery in Saqqez |
| Awards | Sakharov Prize |
Mahsa Jina Amini (Persian: مهسا امینی; Kurdish: ژینا ئەمینی; born September 21, 1999 – died September 16, 2022) was a young woman from Iran. She was arrested in Tehran for not following the rules about the mandatory hijab (a head covering). Her death while in police custody caused many protests across Iran.
People and governments around the world were very upset by her death. It led to a big movement called Woman, Life, Freedom. Mahsa Amini and this movement were even nominated for the Sakharov Prize in 2023. This prize is given by the European Parliament to people who defend freedom and human rights.
Contents
Early Life
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Mahsa Jina Amini was born on September 21, 1999. Her family was Kurdish and lived in Saqqez, a city in northwestern Iran. Her legal name was Mahsa, but her family called her Jina.
In the Persian language, "Mahsa" means "like the moon." In Kurdish, "Jina" means "life" or "a person who gives life." Her official documents used the name Mahsa.
Mahsa finished middle school at a school called Hijab. She then went to Taleghani High School and earned her diploma in 2015. In 2022, Mahsa was accepted into university. She dreamed of becoming a doctor.
Before starting university, Mahsa traveled to Tehran with her parents and 17-year-old brother, Ashkan. They were visiting relatives.
The "Woman, Life, Freedom" Movement
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The Woman, Life, Freedom movement started because of Mahsa Amini's death. It became a powerful way for people to protest.
Many protesters, including famous actors like Marion Cotillard and Juliette Binoche, cut their hair. Some politicians, such as Abir Al-Sahlani, also cut their hair. This was a symbol of protest and solidarity.
Women across Iran also took off and burned their headscarves. They did this to protest the rule that women must wear a hijab.
Remembering Mahsa Amini
On Twitter, the hashtags "#مهسا_امینی" and "#MahsaAmini" became very popular. They were used over 200 million times by October 3, 2022.
Many major cities around the world named places after Mahsa Amini. These included squares, streets, and parks in cities like London, Ottawa, Rome, and Berlin.
The MAHSA Act
The "Mahsa Amini Human Rights and Security Accountability Act," or "MAHSA Act" for short, is a proposed law in the United States. It was first suggested after the Woman, Life, Freedom protests began in Iran.
The goal of this law is to place sanctions (penalties) on the leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The bill was brought back to the US House of Representatives and the US Senate in 2023.
Important Statements
US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke about Mahsa Amini's death. They said that the United States would continue to support the people of Iran.
Sakharov Prize
In 2023, the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) gave the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Jina Mahsa Amini. They also awarded it to the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran. This prize honors those who fight for human rights and freedom.
See also
- Human rights in Iran
- Women's rights in Iran
- MAHSA Act
- Sarina Esmailzadeh
- Nika Shakarami
- Hadis Najafi
