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00:00 It's been over eight months since 22-year-old Masa Amini died while in police custody in Iran.
00:06 The women life freedom protests were the biggest the Islamic Republic has seen since 1979,
00:12 but demonstrations have since calmed in recent weeks.
00:15 Eshad Alijani of the France 24's observers team is in touch with women in Iran and he joins us now.
00:21 Eshad, great to see you. After eight months and
00:25 very vocal demonstrations in the country, laws in Iran haven't changed. So where do things stand?
00:31 Actually, the whole country is in a state of
00:34 one drop more is too much according to the videos we see on the social media and our observers in Iran that we speak to
00:42 confirm that these protests are continuing. Not as bold as eight months ago, yes,
00:47 but the protests in many cities including Zahedan every week sporadically smaller
00:53 continue. It seems that the aim of the
00:56 women life freedom protest was regime change. Well, that obviously hasn't happened yet.
01:02 But on the other hand, we're observing the social media and among the Iranian women
01:07 we talk to almost daily that their everyday life has changed. They no longer cover their hair in public spaces.
01:14 It seems that the most important thing that Iranians, especially
01:18 women, have been able to push back the Islamists in Tehran is the issue of the hijab.
01:24 Now more and more women dare to go outside without a hijab. Eight months ago,
01:29 it was not that common because women were afraid of
01:34 police, but not anymore.
01:37 And is this happening in just Tehran or is this affecting women all across the country?
01:45 No, interestingly, it's not just Tehran or big cities.
01:48 All around the country and also in all sectors of society, religious family as well.
01:53 It's interesting. For example, there was a trend some weeks ago on
01:57 social media. Iranian women who were born and raised in the religious families
02:04 publishing before and after photos when they were religious and
02:09 when they grew up and found their own way.
02:13 We talked to two of them. Parneon was one of them.
02:16 She was born into a very conservative family. You can see the photos.
02:20 Religious family in the town in central Iran.
02:23 And I quote, she said, "Since the revolution started, the pressure of my family has increased.
02:28 They are afraid that the power of this revolution will make me even more rebellious." That which is
02:33 apparently true. She published her photos before and after on Twitter, publicly, so everyone can see it.
02:40 And Rima is also another girl.
02:43 She was also raised in a religious family.
02:47 And she told us, "Since the women's life freedom revolution, even the little bit of pressure that remained has disappeared.
02:54 My family have finally understood that we must respect each other's way of life.
02:58 And they have accepted me as I am."
03:01 Like one of the most visible changes is clearly what they're wearing.
03:05 But does it go beyond that to other freedom?
03:08 Absolutely. It seems that since the beginning of the women's life freedom protest,
03:13 a new self-confidence has emerged among Iranians, especially among the younger generation.
03:18 And young girls in particular are exploring new horizons,
03:23 fighting for other rights that they have been denied for more than four decades.
03:27 For example, this is a new phenomenon we call "Daughters of Anarchy".
03:32 In our article on our website, motorcyclist girls, as you see.
03:37 There is no law banning women from riding motorbikes,
03:40 but Islamists in Tehran have refused to give women motorbike licenses for more than four decades.
03:46 Now, many Iranian girls are fighting for this right.
03:50 While eight months ago, it was very rare to see a girl on a motorbike in Iran,
03:57 now there are many of them.
03:58 And one of them who spoke to us said, "When I first started, I had a lot of reactions on the street, almost all positive.
04:06 Now I get very few reactions.
04:08 I have become a normal thing on the street.
04:11 People have accepted me."
04:12 And that's incredible.
04:14 So if I want to sum up the situation, I would say that the women's life freedom movement has not yet won the war.
04:23 But so far, it has defeated the Islamic Republic in some key battles.
04:29 Things are changing for women in Iran.
04:34 Despite the Islamic Republic, thanks to bravery of Iranian women, I think.
04:38 It's amazing to see that how things have managed to change without the laws itself of the land changing.
04:45 Ershad, we're going to have to leave it there. Thank you very much for joining us.