A photograph of a woman standing on a platform while waving a white hijab on a stick as a symbol of protest against Iran’s mandatory hijab law has further ignited the movement for women’s right in the country. Recently, there have been multiple protests surging throughout Iran due to the economic instability, high unemployment rate, as well as the lack of women’s rights. According to an Iranian lawmaker, Mahmoud Sadeghi, there have been over 3700 people arrested. During these protests, the state news radio of the Esfahan Province reported that there have also been at least 21 deaths during a gunfight where one protester used a hunting rifle to kill the police officers but ended up killing some of the protesters as well during the action.
Among these protests are the Iranian women who are now strongly demanding equality since they have been fighting this battle for decades. After the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the first supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini, made it mandatory for all women to wear the hijab—even non-Muslims or tourists—by 1983. Since then, many women have been fighting against this by disavowing the mandatory hijab law.
This movement was sparked by Masih Alinejad who launched My Stealthy Freedom in 2014, a Facebook page where Iranian women can post pictures of themselves who are not wearing the hijab in public. This page gained international attention and also created the #WhiteWednesdays where women wear white hijabs (or none) to protest the government’s control of the female body.
Even though the hijab is not Iranian women’s biggest issues facing inequality, protesting the mandatory laws is the first step of taking back control of their bodies and choices. Alinejad stated in an interview with The New York Times that she is not directly fighting against the hijab itself, but “for our dignity. If you can’t choose what to put on your head, they [the Iranian government] won’t let you be in charge of what is in your head, either.”
Though the protests in Iran may not change who is in power, it can incite change in the system. The Islamic Republic has retained its influence for decades, but it needs to adapt to people’s needs if they want to remain in power. This tense political atmosphere that is surging throughout the country is pushing people to make a change for the better.
Among these protests are the Iranian women who are now strongly demanding equality since they have been fighting this battle for decades. After the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the first supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini, made it mandatory for all women to wear the hijab—even non-Muslims or tourists—by 1983. Since then, many women have been fighting against this by disavowing the mandatory hijab law.
This movement was sparked by Masih Alinejad who launched My Stealthy Freedom in 2014, a Facebook page where Iranian women can post pictures of themselves who are not wearing the hijab in public. This page gained international attention and also created the #WhiteWednesdays where women wear white hijabs (or none) to protest the government’s control of the female body.
Even though the hijab is not Iranian women’s biggest issues facing inequality, protesting the mandatory laws is the first step of taking back control of their bodies and choices. Alinejad stated in an interview with The New York Times that she is not directly fighting against the hijab itself, but “for our dignity. If you can’t choose what to put on your head, they [the Iranian government] won’t let you be in charge of what is in your head, either.”
Though the protests in Iran may not change who is in power, it can incite change in the system. The Islamic Republic has retained its influence for decades, but it needs to adapt to people’s needs if they want to remain in power. This tense political atmosphere that is surging throughout the country is pushing people to make a change for the better.