SW News: Amidst the growing rage against the Iranian government and the draconian mandating women to cover their heads, Christians in the country have joined the fray and they are demanding equal rights and freedom. Protests are simmering in Iran following the custodial death of a 22-year-old girl who was arrested for improperly wearing the hijab.
The Asia News Agency released a statement of Christian protesters in which they condemned the brutal oppression of protesters in the country. "We, Hamgaam Council of United Iranian Churches, Article18 and Pars Theological Centre, as part of the Iranian Christian community, declare our solidarity with the family of Mahsa (Zina) Amini and support their demand for justice”, they said in the statement.

“As citizens of our country, we condemn in unison the systematic oppression of women and the widespread violation of human rights in Iran. At the same time, we demand freedom, justice and equal rights for all Iranians,” the statement continued.

Christians in the statement called the mandatory rule to wear hijab a "clear violation of human rights" and they demanded that it must be canceled "just like other discriminatory rules.” Understanding the pain of other Iranian citizens the Christian bodies said, "We are all united without distinction of ethnicity, religion, language or creed, in this fight against the shared pain of injustice, oppression and religious dictatorship, as well as for our hope of life, freedom and equality".
They concluded by asking all other Christians to be with “those who have no voice and the oppressed” and to defend their “rights as the Bible teaches and Jesus Christ himself with his life" taught.

Following the death of Amini, people took to the streets to protest and in many cities and towns across the nation, bonfires were lit and women publicly burnt their hijabs and veils. However, the government fought tooth and nail to repress the protesters. This led to the death of many innocent people. More than 20 journalists were arrested and strict restrictions were clamped down on the internet and social media platforms such as Instagram and messaging application WhatsApp.