‘Educated, secular, liberal’ Iranian women have been the backbone of the protests LONDON: The women of Iran have been named Time magazine’s Heroes of the Year 2022 for their pivotal role in widespread protests against the Islamic Republic. Iranian women, who were described by the New York-based magazine as “educated, secular, liberal,” took to the streets in mid-September following the death of Mahsa Amini at the hands of morality police. Protesters demanded changes to the strict rules imposed by the Tehran regime. The cover of the magazine, which is due to be published on Dec. 26, will feature an image of three unveiled Iranian women locking arms in defiance of the country’s rulers. Iranian-American writer and former Time columnist Azadeh Moaveni has also written an accompanying piece lauding the actions of Iranian women and highlighting their importance in protests that have swept the country. “These younger women are now in the streets. 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,” Moaveni wrote. “I can only conclude that when a generation’s aspirations for freedom appear tantalizingly within reach, the more humiliating the remaining restrictions seem and the less daunting the final stretch of resistance feels.” Moaveni also wrote that what might appear to be a feminist revolt in fact carried the grievances of an entire society.