At the same time, the Eiffel Tower was lit up with the words “Woman. Life. Freedom.” and “Stop the executions in Iran,” in a gesture that shows the protest movement remains strong even outside the Islamic State’s borders.
Both messages are a tribute to Mahsa Zhina Amini, whose death last year sparked the demonstrations, arrests and executions that followed in its wake.
After her death, Amini has become an honorary citizen of Paris and according to the French capital’s city hall, the text manifestation on the Eiffel Tower should be seen as a tribute to her and “those who bravely fight for their freedom while the (Iranian) regime continues to execute activists”.
Behind the demonstration in Strasbourg is the organization Iranians in Europe, which wants the EU to adopt a tougher line against Iran by, among other things, labeling the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization.
The nationwide protests in Iran began last September after 22-year-old Mahsa Zhina Amini died in the custody of the Iranian morality police. A number of executions have been confirmed and many more death sentences issued.