TIME magazine names Iranian women ‘heroes of the year’
The US magazine TIME named on Wednesday the women of Iran, who have been protesting against their government policies and repression, as “heroes of the year.”
The New York-based magazine has been naming a “person of the year” for decades, but in recent years it has also started naming “heroes” for their contributions to humanity.
This year, the magazine depicted on its cover a photo of three unveiled young Iranian women, locking arms in defiance of the country’s rulers. Wearing the head covering is mandatory for women in Iran.
Iranian-American journalist Azadeh Moaveni wrote the article hailing their movement.
“The movement they’re leading is educated, liberal, secular, raised on higher expectations, and desperate for normality: college and foreign travel, decent jobs, rule of law, access to the Apple Store, a meaningful role in politics, the freedom to say and wear whatever,” wrote Moaveni.
The Women of Iran are TIME’s 2022 Heroes of the Year #TIMEPOY https://t.co/ZAKOOKS9zA pic.twitter.com/wO8fv9oe6B
— TIME (@TIME) December 7, 2022
Iran’s protests began in September following the death of Mahsa Amini, who died after being held in police custody for wearing her head covering improperly. Her death sparked widespread protests and riots throughout Iran, in addition to a violent government crackdown that has left at least 200 people killed and thousands arrested, according to human rights organizations.
Numerous videos on social media have shown Iranian women taking off and even burning their hijabs in protest. A Kurdish-language slogan, “Women, life, freedom,” has become the rallying cry of the demonstrators.
Many Iranians on social media shared the image of the Time cover in celebration.
On January 7, 1980 @TIME made Khomeini their man of the year.
42 years later …
December 7, 2022 Time magazine makes Iranian women their heroes of the year. https://t.co/wTOdmfOjiY #IranRevoIution #Iran #mahsaami̇ni̇ #مهسا_امینی #زن_زندگی_آزادی pic.twitter.com/csIFXIgB9z
— Samira Mohyeddin سمیرا (@SMohyeddin) December 7, 2022
TIME also named Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as person of the year.