Rock singer, Matin 2 Hanjare, Detained By Iranian Officials

There is consensus among scholars and observers that the protests that erupted in Iran in September 2022 represent a defining moment in the contemporary history of the nation and that they have transformed the contours of hierarchical interactions between the state and the public. An indignant population, dismayed by police brutality, injustice, and the absence of social freedoms, plucked up the courage to resist the status quo and challenge a formidable theocracy. Scenes of bold confrontation between young Iranians—and especially women—and the armed security forces dominating the streets exuded an unprecedented resilience and bravery that the world admired.