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November 6, 2024

The visibility of children in street protests/ Hamed Firmand

Mehsa Amini, a young woman, was killed by the agents of the “moral security police” in late Shahrivar 1401 (September 2022) during widespread protests against the Islamic Republic. In these protests, children, especially teenagers, play a central role, but perhaps more important than their role in these protests is the visibility of children during protest movements. About ten days before the start of nationwide protests, another group of children were seen in widespread street protests: children of individuals under death sentence in Karaj Central Prison.

In this short article, we analyze the presence of children in family gatherings under the execution order and wherever necessary, we will compare it with the presence of children in nationwide protests in response to the murder of Mahsa Amini.

Children in Protests: The Right of Children or Instrumental Use

Recent cases of children’s presence in the streets for the first time have not happened, but based on evidence and the type of children’s activism, it can be concluded that we have entered a new phase. Before this, in various gatherings such as labor protests or even protests against the execution of children, especially young children, we have seen them with bulldozers in hand; children who may not necessarily understand the writing they are carrying; their presence has not been solely for sympathy, but rather through sharing their photos and images on social media. Although the type of children’s activism during protests against the Islamic Republic and their presence in gatherings of families of prisoners sentenced to death may differ, they largely share the fact that children have strongly occupied the space and are demanding their rights.

Of course, our information about the families of prisoners sentenced to execution is not extensive, and all of our analysis is based on observations and published images and writings. Based on this information, children of various ages demanded a halt to the execution of their fathers. Some of these children had placards in their hands, while others were running around with other children and adults. These images show a glimpse of the demands of children who have been ignored or violated in their right to be with their parents, their right to mental health, and their right to growth and survival.

But what sets apart the presence of these children from the children who were present in the protests after the murder of Mahsa Amini, is the visibility of the social group to which the families of those under death sentence belong. The members of this group, who were imprisoned for drug charges, have always lived with the stigma associated with these accusations and crimes. The visibility of these individuals and their children was an important step towards destigmatization and fostering social solidarity with the families of prisoners. Their children are representatives of thousands of children who, in addition to all the psychological, behavioral, and physical damages, also carry the burden of social stigma due to their parents’ imprisonment.

In such a situation, the presence of children in protests reminds us of the fundamental right to be heard and asks us as members of society to respect this right.

Although society is not yet ready to see children in spaces that are always occupied by adults, the events after the murder of Mahsa Amini showed that children will not wait for us to take their presence seriously and create a safe environment for their activities.

Children in Gatherings: Damages and Challenges

It is not a sign of our lack of need to create security and protection for children that they are present in these spaces before becoming “child-friendly” in terms of social activities and civil protests. Rather, it means that we do not have much opportunity to create security for children. Of course, we have not forgotten that violence against children, including those who are present in protests, is a normal and systematic issue in the Islamic Republic of Iran. However, this does not diminish the responsibility that we, as the adult community, have towards this matter.

One important point is the necessity of accompanying children during protests and gatherings. Based on the published images of the family gathering of those sentenced to execution – most likely due to the psychological state of the families and their intense concern for the execution of their loved ones – in many cases, children were left alone or did not have the emotional support of adults in tense situations. Although judgment based on limited published images cannot be the basis for analyzing an event, based on the evidence and the writer’s experience in dealing with families of prisoners and seeing images of young students who were present alone on the streets during protests against the Islamic Republic, neglecting the psychological and emotional needs of children is a common occurrence. In such situations, civil activists and grassroots groups can play a central role. They can distance themselves from the emotional state of the families and focus on the needs of the children. Both young children and adults have special needs that require awareness for a healthy intervention to support these children.

But as much as the safety of children is important in protests and gatherings, it is also important to hear the voices of children. It is a challenge to achieve the right of children to be heard, for them to be representatives of their own desires and needs rather than just repeating the demands of adults. The adult society needs to practice listening; listening without judgment so that children can discover and express their concerns in their own language without being influenced by adult desires. Perhaps a proper analysis of the presence of children in protests after the murder of Mahsa Amini and challenging our ability to listen to children can open the way to hear all children, including children of prisoners, prisoners under death sentence, and executed individuals.

Created By: Hamed Farmand
October 23, 2022

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1 Peace Treaty 1381 Children Compulsory hijab Execution Gathering of families of prisoners sentenced to death Hamed Farmand Hijab Mahsa Amini Monthly Peace Line Magazine Nationwide protests No to execution peace line Right to life ماهنامه خط صلح