Unrest is not uncommon to Iran, but the protests of the past week or so are extraordinary. Extraordinary because they are led by women.
This is an exceptional Teheran tale. Make that an exceptional Iran story, as the unrest has spread to other cities and provinces.
It all started with the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, 22, who was arrested by Iran's morality police for not wearing the hijab properly.
It must be said, without qualification, arrest for such a violation of the dress code is not only severe, but cruel even. Or, as the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM) puts it, arrests for such violations do not adhere to the principle of proportionality. "ABIM believes that this incident was driven by sentiment, and was not based on rational clarity of mind that is based on the axis of balance (wastiyah) and justice in syariah", the non-governmental organisation said in a statement on Sunday, as it called on the Muslim world to condemn Amini's arrest and death in custody.
As for what caused Amini's death, two diverging views are emerging. The official view — yes, there's always an official take — says she died either of a heart attack or of complications following an earlier surgery.
But protesters and Amini's family claimed that she was beaten immediately after her arrest. If this is true, Iran is treating its women savagely. This must stop immediately.
Teheran must remember it doesn't have many friends. The few which it has are disturbed by the deaths and destruction taking place there. After more than a week of protests, 35 people have been reportedly killed, including five security personnel.
Iran must not allow itself to pay such a high price for so small a violation. Education and mercy could have resolved it. So could a quick word from Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, but it was a little late and somewhat qualified.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Raisi said Amini's death in custody "must certainly be investigated", The Guardian quotes him as saying. Our response is, of course it must. Justice demands that.
But the Iranian president also took the press gathered in New York down a bizarre path: "Every day, in different countries, including the United States, we see men and women dying in police encounters, but there is no sensitivity about the cause and dealing with this violence."
True, like Iran, many countries are victims of the West's double standards. But that is not the point at all, Mr President. If what the US does is wrong, it will still be wrong if Iran or any other country does it.
Two wrongs don't make a right is an ancient saw and a nation as old as Iran should know this.
We tell Raisi, as politely as we can, it is pointless to go around asking, as he did in New York, whether Washington or London had investigated all their deaths in custody. Whether or not they investigate, Iran must.
If the US and UK aren't the gold standards for human rights as Iran thinks, then why emulate them? Better still, set the gold standard for the two to follow. Here is how. Be not only kind to your women, but also be seen to be kind to them.