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The Morality Police

"The Morality Police" 

hair showing
not used 
for drying feet

life 
of a young woman 
innocent

tortured, 
brutally taken
and murdered 

for what?

in the 
controlling hands 
of the Morality Police -

monsters are real, 
they do exist
there and here

many demons 
subterranean levels 
under skin, reptilian beneath;

the matrix 
is crumbling 
demonstrating wins

women dancing 
freedom calls in 
cutting hair

setting 
a new world 
alight

escalating ignition
from females
fresh mind fields

awakening gateways
those portals 
that give birth 
to new life

solidarity 
in numbers
women for women

daughters 
of mothers 
mothers of daughters

revolution begins
now burning hijabs
cut their hair show their face

burying archaic thoughts 
of breaking inane
patriarchal tradition 

their smiles 
and their passion 
aflame - no longer, 
bringing shameful disgrace

they stand together
for the innocence
of a young girl, 
and their own

taken and lost
years of subservience
obedience 
breaks like a dam

now too great the despair

for the irreverent disrespect
delivered to women 
Life givers of men 
and their warm homes

women face 
their morality monsters
link their arms 
brave honour guards 

standing together 
no longer
alone -

all over the world
in their streets
other sisters, now 
watch and applaud

wave their arms
show their face
stand rebelliously 
on their chairs

courage in numbers
women stand together 
for Mahsa Amini 22 
and each other

killing their fears


(LadyLabyrinth / 2022)
Mahsa Amini, 22 yrs




Anti-regime protests intensify following the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran
Guardian News, 23.9.22 
https://youtu.be/o1Y2p-ISFvw


Mahsa Amini's cousin speaks out about her death
Sky News, 26.9.22 
https://youtu.be/s2zK62hcq9E


Masih Alinejad: ‘A Little Bit Of Hair’ Is The Reason Amini Was Murdered By Morality Police
MSNBC, 24.9.22 
https://youtu.be/g1sv1isCSic


Women Burn Hijabs in Iran as Protests Escalate over Killing of Mahsa Amini by "Morality Police" 
Democracy Now, 23.9.22
https://youtu.be/M1Ewjb496SY


Iran protests: Fury at morality police sparks women's rights movement • FRANCE 24 English 
France 24, 23.9.22
https://youtu.be/XcGXXBcWaRQ


Iran cracks down on protests after death of young woman as global demonstrations grow
PBS News Hour, 28.9.22 
https://youtu.be/0j01E2FbZX8


Iranian women remove Hijabs as protest against dress code rages
Hindustan Times, 20.9.22 
https://youtu.be/HrYNe40bJlE

Copyright © Lady Labyrinth | Year Posted 2022

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Lady Labyrinth Date: 10/8/2022 1:03:00 AM Iran: Teen protester Nika Shakarami's (16yrs) body stolen, sources say - BBC News Login to Reply Lady Labyrinth Date: 10/8/2022 1:03:00 AM https://youtu.be/CWUDK1cfvEM Lady Labyrinth Date: 10/8/2022 1:03:00 AM "Women, Life, Freedom".

Lady Labyrinth Date: 10/1/2022 11:55:00 PM "How Iran’s Gen Z is leading protests in the streets and online" /PBS NewsHour, 2.10.22 Login to Reply Lady Labyrinth Date: 10/1/2022 11:55:00 PM https://youtu.be/24HfWshV8HU

Unseeking Seeker Date: 9/29/2022 2:26:00 AM Sad but this medieval mindset is yet far more prevalent than is commonly known Login to Reply Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/29/2022 2:44:00 AM True.

Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 7:20:00 PM ‘Iranian women have lost their fear’ | AJ OPINION /Al Jazeera, 28.9.22 Login to Reply Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 7:20:00 PM https://youtu.be/dJVgycoLmSI

Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 5:35:00 PM The Catalyst for change. Login to Reply Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 5:36:00 PM "Calls mount for Canada to list Iran's IRGC as a terrorist entity"/CBC News, 28.9.22 Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 5:35:00 PM https://youtu.be/3MY5NT0v0f4 Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 5:35:00 PM IRGC - what is it? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Revolutionary_Guard_Corps

Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 3:54:00 PM "Iranian Women - before and after the Islamic Revolution"/BBC, 8.2.2019 Login to Reply Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 3:54:00 PM https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47032829

Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 3:52:00 PM "Mahsa Amini Told Eyewitness Police Struck Her In The Head" /Iran International Newsroom, 26.9.22 Login to Reply Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 3:52:00 PM https://www.iranintl.com/en/202209262976

Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 3:52:00 PM Gender Apartheid Login to Reply Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 3:53:00 PM https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_apartheid

Ts Poetry Date: 9/28/2022 11:17:00 AM So sad this can happen in today's world. I was talking with a gentleman who grew up in that region and he sad she was targeted because she was Kurdish... there is no reason for such hatred Login to Reply Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 3:35:00 PM Thanks for your input as a man and father of females, one like my daughter, around the same age as Mahsi Amini, 22. No doubt you are educating yourself at present to be more understanding of the issues affecting women in Iran, other countries of the Middle East, their status in the world, including immigrant status and the overall issue of women’s rights as a global Humanitarian issue, for your own understanding, but also for ongoing positive discussion with your daughters. Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 3:35:00 PM It doesn’t surprise me that information would be delivered to you by a man. Whether a Kurd or not, the fact is this young girl (22) was arrested by Iran’s Islamic ‘Morality Police’ for not adhering to the patriarchal cultural policy and tradition of archaic Sharia Law dress code for women. It is stated because Mahsi was not wearing her Hijab correctly, but in the smallest of ways (of not wearing her Hijab correctly) and indeed at time of arrest, she could not understand what she had done wrong, for she believed she was adhering to the dress code rules. Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 3:35:00 PM An Iranian Journalist (exiled from her country, a mother who was forced to leave and her right to have contact with her young child who was detained by the patriarchal laws, forcible removed), who understands all too well the gender discrimination and removal of freedoms for all women in Iran - states Mahsi Amini was detained with only a small piece of her hair showing. The stroke in the police station may have been a pre-existing condition exacerbated by the fear and cultural shame Mahsi was placed in, or it was due to other means, alleged at present, eg. abused/tortured by the police who detained her. Her family state she had no pre-existing health condition. See link above re reports she was hit in the head by police, which may have brought on the stroke. Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 3:35:00 PM As that journalist (Iranian, Masih Alinejad, links in comment boxes below) states, women in these countries where Sharia Law is enforced by a patriarchal society that dictates what a girl or woman can or cannot wear, or participate in - essentially removal of their ‘human rights’ - live in a state of “gender apartheid”. Women in these Islamic and Islamic middle Eastern countries have had their liberties and freedoms taken from them, for far too long and it doesn’t just come gift wrapped in the Sharia Law dress code. It extends to all areas of their lives. For a period between the 1930s up to the time of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, women in Iran had some freedom (a lot more than they do now) to dress and live freely – they were not enforced to adhere to Sharia Law dress codes, they had opportunities to live and be educated, similar to Western society women. Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 3:35:00 PM It is very apparent the majority of Islamic women, through their protests and ‘voice’ – do not want to live in a state of gender apartheid, with all their liberties and their lives obliterated by Islamic Sharia Law. Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 3:35:00 PM It is not just the dress code, that is enforced upon women. Child marriages are enforced when a girl is of a prepubescent age; arranged marriages for many women; family patriarchs have the right to murder their own children and female relatives due to ‘shame’ brought upon the family by a female, aka 'honour killings'; sex trafficking; there are numerous injustices too many to mention, that these women face daily with their dignity, and their lives stolen from them by a culture that is archaic and patriarchal. It does not just affect women in Iran and those Middle Eastern countries under Islamic Sharia laws, it extends to other countries, where those middle eastern Islamic and other women of Islam, have immigrated to - eg U.S., U.K., Australia, Europe - hoping to be given the same equality as women (are supposed to have) and are exposed to and able to participate in the Western World. Sharia Law is still enforced upon them in the countries they immigrate to. Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 3:34:00 PM Now, I don’t profess to know all there is to know about Islam and Sharia Law. I don’t. I am trying to educate myself better and to the maximum level, with regards to this very important Human Rights Issue, which affects not only women in the Middle East – but women and men of the ‘free’ world. I do understand and I do see injustice of the most debilitating and deadly proportions while I educate myself and witness what occurs, through the ‘voice’ of Islamic Middle Eastern Women who are now protesting through revolution for their very lives and a change to their society and culture that will allow them ‘freedom’ as other women in the Western World support. Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 3:34:00 PM All women should be standing by these women at present, all men with any ounce of respect for women - should be standing with women (all women, Middle Eastern, other cultures, and Western society), no matter religion or race - in solidarity as well. This is a global Humanitarian issue. That could possibly, for those who live in hope, see a world united, with less - to no wars - and peace. Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 3:34:00 PM The world is in great turmoil. But it seems to me that everything – but particularly as we are witnessing with 2022 - the escalation of greater turmoil is leading to a world that is ready for monumental change and unification.

Susan Woodrow Date: 9/28/2022 7:37:00 AM Powerful write It is very sad the plight of women all over but more so in certain regions :) Login to Reply Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 3:51:00 PM Thank you Susan. My thoughts above. I feel and believe we should all be ignited by the change these women are fighting for - they are fighting for their lives. It is not just a female revolution, but one of global humanitarian rights. I won't go on as I am want to be far too verbose and grandly inarticulate. I am not that educated, but definitely stand by all women and their humanitarian rights (I extend this to political/legal rights), particularly those Islam women/girls are fighting for at present. Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 3:41:00 PM All women and men (with respect for women), should be standing in solidarity with this issue, irrespective of religion or culture. Reading about Mahsi Amini (and seeing vision of her in the police station) and learning more about what has lead to the protests; and considering I was raised in a family of females and I have a daughter the same age as Mahsi, I have made it a point to educate myself thoroughly on this issue. I've always been pro-feminist, but need to educate myself better on the plight of Islam women.

Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 1:53:00 AM Iranian Journalist: Iranian Women Are ‘Leading A Revolution’ /MSNBC, 28.9.22. Login to Reply Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 1:53:00 AM https://youtu.be/afJ7PCq2-sM

Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 1:38:00 AM Al Jazeera correspondent Dorsa Jabbari explains why dialogue is needed now more than ever. / Al Jazeera, 27.9.22 Login to Reply Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 1:38:00 AM https://youtu.be/0F4miZPfHW0

Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 1:33:00 AM Iran: Anger after woman dies following ‘morality police’ arrest | Al Jazeera Newsfeed/Al Jazeera, 18.9.22 Login to Reply Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 1:33:00 AM https://youtu.be/RlX2LJHyE0E

Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 1:07:00 AM What you need to know about the protests in Iran - Masih Alinejad, an Iranian-American journalist and activist, discusses the situation in Iran following the death of a 22-year-old woman while in police custody. Login to Reply Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 1:07:00 AM https://youtu.be/ncz25PWApH4

Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 1:05:00 AM Women explain why they cut their hair amid growing protests in Iran l GMA Login to Reply Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 1:05:00 AM https://youtu.be/3AJREJbDsOo

Lady Labyrinth Date: 9/28/2022 12:46:00 AM Perhaps ... the matrix is crumbling. May Amini's death and other girls and women who have had their lives stolen, snuffed out and padlocked away, for morality and inane patriarchal traditions, not be in vain. Let there be tremendous change and let it be for the betterment of women and humanity. Login to Reply