Voices of women inside and outside Iran on the uprising after Mahsa Amini’s death

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• Amna Nawaz:

  For nearly three weeks, Iranians have marched in the streets to denounce the Islamic regime that has ruled for more than 40 years.

  Sparked by the killing of a young woman named Mahsa Amini by the so-called morality police, this uprising, led by young women, is now nationwide, even global.

  Over the last week, producer Zeba Warsi has been in contact with women both inside and outside Iran.

  Here are some of their stories.

  In an iconic moment lest, schoolgirls in Iran drove out a Basij, an Iranian paramilitary officer, calling him shameless. High school girls are off with their hijabs, singing the protest anthem, demanding freedom, stunning images from across the country, Iranian youth angry and defiant, despite the regime's brutal crackdown.

  Students from Sharif University, one of Iran's most respective, are sometimes called geniuses, chased by the likes of MIT and Stanford. Today, they are being chased by state security forces.

• Iranian Student:

  The government wants to control this protest, but I hope, this time, it will be different, and I deeply believe that God with us.

• Amna Nawaz:

  We spoke to several young women inside Iran. We are protecting their identities for their own security.

• Iranian Student:

  It is a government problem. We want to be equal with men. We want to wear anything.

• Amna Nawaz:

  They opened up about life under this hard-line regime.

• Iranian Student:

  We are on a journey, and, in the road, the headscarf of my sister fell down. After 10 minutes or maybe 15 minutes, my father received a message on his phone: If you repeat it and if you lose your headscarf, you will have to pay a fine for that. And my father was so angry.

• Amna Nawaz:

  Another young woman spoke to us from her home in Southeast Tehran. We have altered the audio to conceal her identity.

• Person:

  The situation is so ridiculously messed up that they are literally checking people's phones. The people that are passing by in the street could be arrested and prosecuted.

  I have had friends that were arrested. I have had friends that were threatened to stay silent, or they will be prosecuted. I have had friends that had to literally run for their lives from the hands of the cops that right now are trying to suppress them.

  I want this government gone, because I want to live like a normal human being with human rights, with the rights to express myself without the fear of literally being killed.

• Amna Nawaz:

  In all our interviews, there is one common message.

• Iranian Student:

  Women and men are being killed in the streets. Islamic Republic is not equal to Iran. We are Iran. They are the Islamic Republic.

• Amna Nawaz:

  Human rights groups say that more than 100 protesters have been killed by security forces. Among them is 16-year-old Nika Shahkarami. Her disturbing death created more fear and more outrage.

  In a heartbreaking message on Nika's birthday, her mother called her a martyr.

  Nasrin Shahkarami, Mother of Nika Shahkarami (through translator): Today was your birthday, my love. I want to congratulate you on becoming a martyr, Nika. Congratulations on becoming a martyr.

• Amna Nawaz:

  Iranian women who have been forced into exile across the world by the regime's policies poured out their hearts to us in dozens of e-mails.

• Person:

  "Every day, it is like waking up to a bottle no matter where we live. It is the 21st century, and other people do not understand the horror and instability Iranians face on a daily basis."

• Person:

  "You have stolen our peace for four decades. Return Iran to its people. We urge you, leave our people alone."

• Person:

  "For as long as I remember. I wanted to be a boy. I even asked my mom to cut my hair. I wanted to be a boy because girls are not allowed to sing, to dance, to laugh loudly, to be happy, to exist."

• Person:

  "I was walking in the streets of Tehran with my friends. I was arrested for wearing a V-neck T-shirt under my long coat. There was no way out. We had all been abducted by the morality police."

• Amna Nawaz:

  The protests have sparked a global backlash, with millions standing in fierce support, women leaders from every walk of life, from French actresses, to Belgian lawmakers cutting their hair in solidarity.

  But for the Iranian diaspora, it's brought back haunting memories and sparked fear for family back home.

  Nazanin, Iranian Woman in Exile: I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Just remembering all the pain and guilt and everything, just made me emotional. I'm so sorry. Give me a second.

  And it is still going on. You know, very simple, easy things that is very normal in all parts of the world, it is a no-no thing in Iran for everyone, for young people, for kids. They could be punished for it. It is so painful. And when I remember what we went through, and still — I have two nieces too, young nieces in Iran. And when I feel like they have to go through what I went through, it is very painful.