On September 27, feminist activists held an action in front of the Iranian Embassy in Baku. Activists tried to burn a black cloth symbolizing the circumcision of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's current supreme leader. They wore t-shirts with the words "Don't touch my body and my decisions," "Rejection of morality guards," and "Keep your hands off women." Activists said they were holding the rally in support of women in Iran.
Feminist activist Narmin Shahmarzade said that they appreciate the struggle of Iranian women on behalf of the Azerbaijan Feminist Movement: "Thus, all dictators should understand that they cannot have any say over women. Women can make their own choices regarding their bodies, whether to wear hijab or not, and so on. They should be independent. We send a message to all dictators with this."
Feminist activist Gulnara Mehdiyeva, one of the demonstration participants, said that Azerbaijani activists stand in solidarity with the struggle of Iranian women against the reaction. "You might think that if there is no hijab ban or compulsory hijab in Azerbaijan, what is the meaning of this protest? As Azerbaijani women, our bodies are constantly interfered with, and our clothes and appearance are interfered with. Society tries to dictate to us how we should dress, look, and where and how we should walk. In any case, the reaction is trying to establish power over our bodies. That's why we stand in solidarity with our Iranian sisters and their struggle," she added.
After the death of Mahsa Amini, who was under the control of moral police in Tehran, a wave of protests started in most provinces of the country. Protesters chanted slogans against Iran's religious leader Ali Khamenei and burned his posters hanging on the streets. Many protesters have been arrested in these protests, which are still ongoing in some cities of the country. However, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has not yet disclosed the exact number of those arrested. Nevertheless, Iran's state television announced that the death toll in Iran was 35.
The cities of Iranian Azerbaijan, such as Tabriz, Urmia, Ardabil, Malikkendi (Malekan), Meshginshahr, and Zanjan, witnessed widespread protests against the government. Protesters chanted slogans such as "Death to the dictator" and "Freedom, justice, national government" at the rallies held in the cities of Iranian Azerbaijan.
