Today marks two years since Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian-Kurdish woman, paid the ultimate price for the "crime" of not wearing her hijab properly.
Known to her friends and family by her Kurdish name Jina, Amini's death in police custody sparked months of nationwide protests that posed one of the strongest challenges to the legitimacy of the Islamic republic since its inception in 1979.
Amini had been detained by Tehran's morality police for allegedly flouting Iran's dress code requiring women to wear a hair-covering head scarf, or hijab. Following her death, vans carrying the police force notorious for its strong-armed enforcement of the "hijab law" temporarily disappeared from the streets as protesters across Iran staged demonstrations every day for months, giving rise to a movement that came to be known as "Women, Life, Freedom."
Two years on, Iranians who spoke to RFE/RL's Radio Farda say the movement has left an indelible mark on society, inspiring a rising level of defiance and instilling a palpable sense of camaraderie.
"I think it'd be better to ask what hasn't changed [since the protests]," said Farhad, a male supporter of the movement whose real identity is being withheld for his safety, as are those of others who spoke to Radio Farda. "We all found the courage to be ourselves."
Looking Out For One Another
One of the most striking consequences of the protest movement has been a growing sense of fellowship among people; whereas once bystanders may have ignored a woman being accosted for not covering her hair, today they come to her aid.
SEE ALSO: This Is What It's Like To Be Detained By Iran's Dreaded Morality Police"People have become more empathetic," said, Atousa, a woman who recalled how strangers helped her during recent run-ins with individuals who had confronted her about not following the dress code.
"It's happened a few times that someone's come up to me to warn me about my hijab and people have either joined me to talk the person down or gave me words of encouragement," she said.
And Atousa is not the only woman to have witnessed this camaraderie.
Three Iranian girls in November 2022 show their solidarity with protesters in the city of Mahabad following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.
"People in public spaces confront each other less [about the hijab] and look out for each other more," said Maryam.
She told Radio Farda that on several occasions, strangers had tipped her off about a police presence further up the street so that she could avoid the area or cover her hair.
'No Longer Give In To Pressure'
The 2022 protests grew every day, spreading to towns and cities across Iran and drawing men and women of all ages, particularly teenagers, to the streets.
SEE ALSO: 'Naked' And Defiant: Diary Of An Iranian ProtesterThe unrest was brutally suppressed, with the Oslo-based Iran Human Rights group estimating that more than 500 protesters were killed by security forces. At least 10 men have been executed for alleged involvement in attacks on security personnel during the unrest.
Human Rights Watch on September 10 accused the authorities in Iran of continuing "to silence and punish family members" of those killed in the protests or imprisoned since the unrest.
The Women, Life, Freedom protests "showed that people know exactly what they want and will no longer give in to pressure," said Fariba.
She said the movement has "become internalized" and insisted that "no authority can prevent the consequences of this transformation."
Atousa echoed the same sentiment, saying that women now wear less restrictive clothes in many places and hear fewer snarky remarks in public because it is becoming normal to challenge the strict dress code.
"It looks like [the authorities] have retreated in some places that are normally strict, like domestic airports," she observed.
Atousa said that in both large and small cities there are places where women not only defy the dress code by refusing to cover their hair, but "dress beautifully."
The authorities have sought to intensify hijab enforcement. They have tried a variety of methods such as reintroducing the morality police, shutting down businesses, and even barring pharmacies from selling medicine to women who fail to comply with the dress code. They have even encouraged conservative civilians to verbally warn women who do not observe the hijab, which has led to cases of violence.
"The establishment has the power, and whenever it sees that camaraderie is growing, it tries to destroy it," said Maryam. Describing what she called a cycle of resistance and the crackdowns that follow, she said that "I think the positive part [people's defiance] lasts longer every time."
Persisting Anxiety
Despite increased signs of strength in the face of ever-increasing pressure, Iranians are still suffering from hopelessness and anxiety, according to people who spoke to Radio Farda.
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Iran's 'Ambassadors Of Kindness' Enforce Hijab In New Head Scarf Crackdown
"There's a lot of social anxiety caused by uncertainty about what's going to happen in the future," Atousa said. "I see this all around me; anxiety induced by social and economic issues."
She added that she had seen a rise in drug and alcohol use over the past two years.
Sarah, another woman who has supported the protests, said there is a "lack of stability" in everything, especially in the cost of living. Making matters worse, many have to contend with their friends and family leaving the country.
"You're constantly losing money, friends, and relationships that you've built," she said. "This is very damaging."
Sarah joked bitterly that asking what antidepressant others are taking has become a standard part of greetings.
But despite the problems, people continue to defy the authorities, according to Mehran, another male supporter, who predicted that society would prevail.
"Resisting against the progress of life has always been condemned to failure," he said.