This year’s ‘National Day of Hijab and Chastity’ in Iran was unusual in more ways than one. On July 12, Iranian women took to the streets and publicly removed their veils as a sign of protest against the country’s hijab rules. They also posted their videos on social media.
Protests erupted in western Iran with Iranian women publicly taking off their hijabs over the death of a 22-year-old woman Mahsa Amini. Amini was detained by Iran’s ‘Morality Police’ for wearing the Hijab in an ‘improper manner’ as she had not fully covered her hair. She was arrested by the ‘Morality Police’ and then assaulted in the police van while being driven to a detention center for a “re-education lesson”.
Several videos emerging from the protests have gone viral on social media showing protestors shouting anti-government slogans as they gathered in Saqqez, the hometown of Mahsa Amini while mourning the 22-year-old who died in a hospital in Tehran.
Masih Alinejad, an Iranian journalist and activist shared a video on Twitter and wrote, “Women of Iran-Saghez removed their headscarves in protest against the murder of Mahsa Amini 22 Yr old woman by hijab police and chanting: death to the dictator! Removing the hijab is a punishable crime in Iran. We call on women and men around the world to show solidarity.”
In another tweet, Masih Alinejad, wrote, “This is the real Iran, Security forces in Iran’s Saqqez opened fire at peaceful protesters following the burial of #Mahsa_Amini. Several protesters have been injured. First Hijab police killed a 22 Yr old girl and now using guns and tear gas against grieving people.”
In Iran, the hijab is compulsory for women with any violation attracting a prison sentence of 2-12 months and a fine between 50,000 and 500,000 rials (adjusted for inflation). During the 2017-19 protests, multiple protesting women were arrested with many grievously injured in the police action. An Iranian activist Saba Kord Afshari was put behind bars for 24 years over promoting “corruption and prostitution” by taking off her hijab. Iranian protesters are not alone. Women in Saudi Arabia had also launched a “niqab under my foot” movement to protest against the conservative Islamic dress code mandated for them in 2018.
Coming back to India and the recent protests to demand the right to wear a hijab, one can still hope that it is just a section of Muslim women who consider it as a part of their religious belief who are demanding it. Evidence has been placed in court proving that students at the same Udupi college didn’t wear the hijab as late as December 2021. If it is a new toolkit to target the government of the day, it will eventually fade out. But if it becomes a massive movement with organic support from a majority of Muslim women, then it is going to be an albatross around their own necks.
“Death to the dictator,” the mob screamed, referring to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as several women removed their headscarves. Protests spread to Sanandaj, the regional capital, and lasted late into the night. Crowds chanted on social media, “Saqez is not alone, it is supported by Sanandaj.”
In Saqqez city the woman protestors took their Hijabs off as a mark of protest against the mandatory veiling.
Girls are mercilessly Beaten, assaulted & humiliated Publicly by Radicals in Iran for not wearing Hijab. Morality Police Monsters violently assault Girls enforcing Hijab Compulsion.
Girls in Iran revolted and publicly removed their Hijabs in protest against the brutal murder of Mahsa Amini by Police for not wearing a Hijab. Women in Iran have removed their Hijab & have come out in the open to show solidarity for her.
Meanwhile, the minority in India is fighting to wear hijab in schools. The 22 yr old activist was arrested & beaten so brutally in Iran that she went into Coma & now reported Dead. Girls in extremist countries are facing “Wear Hijab or Die”
They claim that Hijab, Azaan, Halala, and Polygamy is their choice. They believed in and practice Islam over Nation. But they always forget co-existence, mutual respect, and civilized living in a nation.
Interestingly the leftist group is seen appreciating the protest by women in Iran whereas the same people were seen supporting the protest sparked by radicals in India to wear Hijab in Schools.
In 1994, in Algeria, Katia Bengana was killed in Algeria, and she refused to wear Hijab. In 2022, in Iran, Mahsa Amini died for the same reasons.
Afghanistan’s first female rapper, Paradise Sorouri was nearly killed when assaulted by 10 men for not wearing a Hijab and still fights for women’s rights with her music.
Iranian people have started protesting in different cities against the Islamic dictatorial government of Iran and the compulsory hijab law. The murder of Mahsa Amini is the starting point of these protests. It is reported that people are being shot brutally while protesting.
