TEHRAN: Iran鈥檚 government has warned it will not tolerate any signs of 鈥渋nstability鈥� as the first anniversary nears of the death of Mahsa Amini and the months-long protests it sparked.
Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, died on September 16 last year after her arrest in Tehran for an alleged breach of the Islamic republic鈥檚 strict dress code for women.
Her death triggered months of nationwide demonstrations under the slogan 鈥淲oman, Life, Freedom.鈥�
Hundreds of people were killed in street clashes, including dozens of security personnel, before authorities moved to quell what they branded foreign-instigated 鈥渞iots.鈥�
One year on, no plans for demonstrations have been overtly announced to mark the anniversary of Amini鈥檚 death on Saturday, which is also a religious public holiday.
President Ebrahim Raisi issued a warning in a television interview on Tuesday.
鈥淭hose who intend to abuse Mahsa Amini鈥檚 name under this pretext, to be an agent of foreigners, to create this instability in the country, we know what will happen to them,鈥� he said.
Security services will be vigilant, the deputy head of the judiciary, Sadeq Rahimi, said late last month.
鈥淭he intelligence and security agencies are monitoring all the movements and will identify and deliver to judicial authorities those who want to... take to streets in the coming days and create problems,鈥� he warned.
Last week, Iranian authorities shut down at least five social media pages and arrested the six individuals behind them, on accusations they were 鈥渙rganizing riots鈥� for the anniversary.
Last year鈥檚 wave of protests posed a major challenge for the Iranian government, which is also at odds with Western powers over its nuclear program and under punishing sanctions.
鈥淣o incident in the history of the Islamic republic has driven such a wedge between the system and the people as the death of Mahsa Amini,鈥� said Fayyaz Zahed, a professor of contemporary history.
He said he believes the government 鈥渃annot solely rely on security and repressive responses鈥� to contain the issue.
Mohammad Sadegh Javadi-Hessar, a reformist activist based in the northeastern city of Mashhad, said many people 鈥渁re still traumatized by last year鈥檚 events.鈥�
The months-long demonstrations, aside from the bloodshed, also saw thousands of people arrested.
In February, Iran鈥檚 supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared the end of the unrest and the defeat of the 鈥減lot鈥� fomented by the 鈥渆nemy,鈥� a reference to the Western governments and Iranian exiled opposition groups that backed the demonstrations.
On Monday, Khamenei accused Iran鈥檚 arch foe the United States of intending to exploit 鈥渋ssues they think can cause crisis in Iran鈥� including that of women.
Women in Iran have been required to cover their heads and necks since shortly after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and encouraged to wear modest garments.
While last year鈥檚 protests have cooled, many Iranian women, especially in the capital Tehran, have been increasingly flouting the strict dress code.
鈥淭he most remarkable effect the Mahsa movement had on Iranian society was the change in the society... which has become more colorful and livelier,鈥� said Zahed.
鈥淲omen鈥檚 clothing has changed significantly,鈥� he said, also noting a shift to brighter colors.
Authorities have pushed back, installing surveillance cameras in public places to monitor violations and shutting businesses where rules have been breached.
Iran鈥檚 parliament has discussed a bill that would toughen penalties on those flouting the dress code.
But not everyone backs the strict punishments.
Prominent Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi has expressed his rejection against using 鈥渧iolence and pressure鈥� to impose the hijab headscarf.
Reformist leaders have also denounced the recent dismissal of dozens of university professors.
Local media has quoted several professors as saying they were dismissed against the backdrop of their political views in support of the protest movement.
While the issue of hijab remains critical, for many in Iran, where inflation hovers at nearly 50 percent, economic pain is a priority, said Javadi-Hessar, the activist.
鈥淭he main demand of the people is the improvement of the economy, ahead of civil and political freedoms,鈥� he said.