Beauty
Women Around The World Cut Their Hair As An Act Of Solidarity With Iranian Protesters
The world demands justice.
The name Mahsa Amini is being voiced through various social media platforms, every single post demanding that justice be served and freedom be given in Iran. Now, around the world, women of different cultures and backgrounds have cut their hair in solidarity with Iranian protesters.
British-Iranian celebrity Elika Ashoori cut her hair on TV. She spoke, “The people need to not normalize pain and suffering in the Middle East.”
“They need to see what’s happening to these girls to these girls is no different to what would happen anywhere in the world.”
The protest sees women around the world sharing her name, Mahsa Amini, and sharing the story of how she was murdered by Tehran’s notorious morality police for allegedly breaching the Islamic republic’s dress code for women.
@hugo_joss Women in Iran are fighting for freedom and sovereignty of their own bodies. We cut our hair to mourn and protest in solidarity with the women of Iran. We cut our hair to reject male imposed standards of female beauty. Be their voice Say her name #mahsaamini #iraniantiktok #iranprotests2022 #mahsa_amini #opiran ♬ original sound – em🤍
This is Jocelyn Laidlaw from Ottawa, Canada, who chopped a chunk of her brunette hair. Below is Rezzamin, from Iran, who cute her curly brown hair and wrote, “For Mahsa Amini, 22 years old Iranian woman was killed because of mandatory hijab.”
The tragic death of the young woman sparked protests and anger from people around the world, particularly from Iranians, who are putting their life at risk.
Germany has also joined in as this woman became an emotional wreck while cutting her hair as an act of support.
Around the world, especially in Turkey, Lebanon, London, and France, women and celebrities alike have their attention to the incident and cut their hair as an act of solidarity.
Rivka Lanska from Czech Republic had a short haircut and took out a pair of scissors in her clip, “Trying to use my voice. Czech women ale with you. Rest peacefully Mahsa Azizam.”
Mahsa was detained by the notorious morality police of Tehran and days later, she was pronounced dead.
Elika Ashoori, who cut her hair live on TV, and her civil engineer father, Anoosheh Ashoori, has been repeatedly arrested and accused as spies, which they’ve always vehemently denied of. Anoosheh had just gotten out of the Evin jail, the same place where Elika was incarcerated, pictured on the flight after he got out.
She spoke during an interview, “This all started with the murder of one girl who was showing a few strands of hair and was beaten by the morality police but it soon escalated into nation wide protests and progressed into woman asking for the removal of compulsory hijab which has been implemented for four decades in Iran.”
“From there, it had taken another shape and has become a nationwide revolution led by women. This is the first female-led revolution that we have seen in our time that the demographic of age is between 16 and 22.”
“I grew up in Iran. I had to cover my hair. I left when I was 16. If you look at a nine-year-old and you are seduced by her, the sickness is in your mind. They murder them, they hide their bodies, then they would stage a murder with their bodies to distract from the way they killed them.”
Canadian singer and songwriter Helia Homam was emotional in her clip, writing, “In Iran, showing your God-given hair is a crime that women are beaten, jailed & killed for.”
“In light of the recent killing of Mahsa Amini, many women are cutting their hair to show solidarity with Iranian women. Please be our voice. The government shutdown the Internet.”
Fellow Canadian Clara Dao was emotional in her clip as she cut her hair and spoke, “Please be their voice & spread awareness. ANYTHING helps!! I stand with the Iranian women and people. Sending my love and prayers to anyone in Iran right now, y’all deserve so much better!”
From France, we have Manon, based in Lille, who cut a small part of her short hair.
Sophie of Mouans-Sartoux, France, also cut her hair “for the freedom of women in the world.”
And Anna Trenka from Germany showed her protest against the strict dress code by cutting her hair as well.
Elika shared the ways people can do to help, even if they cannot be politically active or be in Iran. She said, “There are three factors, people media and politicians, the media to stop misrepresenting the news as we have seen with the New York Times article that has put these protests down as economical protests, which is so wrong.”
Oscar-winning actresses Marion Cotillard, Juliette Binoche, and fellow stars saw themselves showing support by cutting their hair. Binoche iconically cut her hair with no hesitation and spoke, “For Freedom.”
Charlotte Gainsbourg helped her mother, Jane Birkin, cut her hair for #HairForFreedom.
Swedish lawmaker, Abir Al-Sahlani, cut her hair during a debate on Iran protests at the European Parliament.
Iran has not softened up despite worldwide anger – crackdowns on protests have been harsh, with the death toll currently reaching 185 with 19 children dead, according to the Iran Human Rights organization from Oslo. And on top of this is a number of deaths that cannot be confirmed.
IHR explains, “It is important to note that efforts to verify many of the reported deaths are hindered by security issues and the internet shutdown. As such, many of the reported killings are still under investigation, and the exact number of those killed is higher.”
