Antigone: Morality Police, And Death Of Mahsa Amini

In Antigone, a prominent theme that is demonstrated is law vs individual morality. This is still an issue today because especially in places like Iran and Pakistan where the law is morally questionable, it is important to decide whether one should follow the law or their morality if the law itself is not just. In Antigone by Sophocles, A sister decides to honor her brother by burying him at the risk of breaking the law and facing death. In the article Protests in Iran about the “Morality Police” and Death of Mahsa Amini by Cora Engelbrecht the experiences of women under the rule of the Islamic Republic are documented. As well as the attempts of the public to protest the unjust laws and policies that have been newly instated whilst endangering

The play does so by showing how our protagonist Antigone decides to break the law against burying her brother Polyneices body, while her sister Ismene decides to abide by the law rather than following her morality. This is shown in the point in the play in which Ismene states “Dishonor them I do not, but nor am I strong enough to defy the laws of the land” (Sophocles pg 11). This quote displays the clear apprehension she feels towards the idea of breaking the law; To which Antigone responds by saying “ Live then; and live with your choice. I am going to bury his body” (Sophocles pg 11). This quote demonstrates her desire to follow her morality rather than the law and its harsh punishments. Later in the play Antigone is caught burying her brother and ends up being killed as a result. In Antigone, Sophocles shows how Choosing between the law and individual morality can result in severe

The policies that were instated by the Islamic Republic require all women to wear hijabs in public and for women not to travel without the consent of their husband. The public being outraged by the oppressive nature of these policies towards women and the severe mismanagement of the country, held massive protests to challenge the law, the article stated “The protests were a culmination of the past five years where all facets of society — laborers, teachers, retirees, university students and average people everywhere — have been trying to call for an end to the crisis of impunity in Iran despite violent state repression” (Engelbrecht). Showing how the public was willing to follow their personal morality and protest the unjust laws and policies put in place by the Islamic Republic even at the risk of their personal safety. The article also stated, “They erupted last weekend after the woman, Mahsa Amini, died following her arrest by Tehran’s morality police on an accusation of violating the law on head scarves” (Engelbrecht). This quote mentions the story of a woman who was accused of