The current situation in Iran represents what’s been widely cited as the most significant and sustaining protests in the country in decades. Here in the U.S., however, coverage surrounding these developments has been criticized as glaringly inconsistent.
The phrase “Woman, Life, Freedom” has emerged as a rallying sentiment for protesters, with the slogan having notably appeared in the stands during World Cup festivities in November. More recently, Iran players initially showed solidarity by not singing along to the country’s national anthem ahead of a match against England, although they ultimately returned to doing so at a subsequent match against Wales. (A source later told CNN that families of Iran players had been threatened).
Amid continued updates on the protests, we’ve put together a breakdown of what you need to know regarding the movement, starting with the widely criticized death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.