A video of a woman in Iran removing her headscarf after being barred from running for office due to her inappropriate hijab has gone viral.
Zeynab Kazempour removed her headscarf during the annual assembly of the Tehran Construction Engineering Organization on Friday after the board of directors denied her candidature for the board, Iran International reported.
She then delivered a brief statement on stage, saying, “I don’t recognise the assembly that denies candidates the right to run because they don’t wear a headscarf.” The meeting attendees applauded her as she tossed away her scarf before exiting the platform.
Masih Alinejad, a prominent anti-regime activist who was the target of an assassination attempt, posted a video of the Iranian woman removing her hijab on stage at an engineering event. Applause greeted her arrival. “This is what bravery looks like,” said Alinejad.
This is what bravery look like.
Iran I woman removed from the #IRI National Council For Engineering for not wearing hijab properly just removed her headscarf on stage.
She got applause for her act of civil disobedience. #IranRevoIution#MahsaAmini
pic.twitter.com/dWMlIszStd
— Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) February 17, 2023
On Friday, anti-government protests erupted in at least eight Iranian cities, as per media reports.
After months of protests initiated by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody on September 16, the rallies had largely dissipated. She was arrested by the so-called morality police on suspicion of violating the country’s dress code.
Iran International, a news outlet, also posted footage of increased security in the south-eastern region of Zahadan following rallies there. “The city regularly witnesses protests after Friday prayers,” reads the caption alongside the video.
بالتزامن مع مظاهرات حاشدة في مدينة زاهدان، جنوب شرقي #إيران، أظهرت مقاطع فيديو أجواء أمنية مشددة في المدينة التي اعتادت في الشهور الأربعة الأخيرة على مظاهرات واسعة بعد صلاة الجمعة.#احتجاجات_إيران pic.twitter.com/2KSo1DfDYl
— إيران إنترناشيونال-عربي (@IranIntl_Ar) February 17, 2023
According to the group Human Rights Activists in Iran, other videos showed protests in Tehran, the country’s capital, as well as in the cities of Arak, Isfahan, Izeh in Khuzestan province, and Karaj.
Protests in the Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan have entered their 20th week, “despite heightened security in the city, deployment of various checkpoints, and closed roads,” according to Iran International.
Online videos posted by the Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights in the western Kurdish regions showed burning barriers in Sanandaj, where protests have erupted since Amini’s killing.
Hengaw shared a video with digitally altered voices screaming, “Death to the Dictator!”
This call has been heard often during protests against Iran’s 83-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Similar chants were heard in other videos purportedly shot in Tehran, as well as scenes of heavily armed riot police in the street.
The Iranian administration has claimed that “foreign actors” are to blame for the protests.
(With Inputs From Agencies)
