Thousands March In US To Support Iran's Anti-Hijab Protests

Thousands of people, including many of Iranian origin, marched Saturday in Washington to show support for nationwide protests in Iran sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini last month.

Thousands of people, including many of Iranian descent, marched on Saturday in Washington to show support for nationwide protests in Iran sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini last month.

They chanted slogans such as "Women, life, freedom" and "Justice for Iran" as they walked from the National Mall -

The vast green expanse that houses the Washington Monument - the White House.

Siamak Aram, one of the organizers, said attendance will exceed 10,000 by the end of the rally and that this is the fifth such rally in Washington, in solidarity with the women-led protests in Iran that have entered their sixth week.

"I think this is the biggest," Aram told AFP.

Some of the protesters came from other cities such as a 28-year-old woman from Boston who gave her name only as Mahshid and who wears a T-shirt that reads "Help Iran Free".

"We no longer want this tyrannical regime, which prevents us from our basic human rights and our freedom," Mahshid said.

who left Iran three years ago to complete a master's degree in architecture in the United States.

Like others on the march, she declined to give her last name out of fear for relatives who remained in Iran.

One of the signs was held by a young woman with a lock of hair tied on it and read: "Our hair may offend you but our minds will finish you off."

Mahsa Amini died last month in police custody after being arrested for allegedly violating Iran's strict dress code for women.

Her death sparked the largest protests in the Islamic Republic in years.

Other rallies in support of protesters in Iran were also held on Saturday in Berlin and Tokyo.

In Washington, a woman named Marjan, age 55

She said she was pleased that the march included people who lived in Iran and others who did not.

“You see different ages, different religions, different beliefs,” Marjan said.

Her childhood friend named Negar was visiting from Britain, where she said she also attended gatherings like this.

“This is a really wonderful revolution led by women, and they are the most oppressed people in Iran,” said Negar, 53.

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