In the broad daylight of 2nd September 2019, an Iranian girl named Sahar Khodayri set herself ablaze in front of the Islamic revolutionary court of Tehran. After a weak of severe pain and trauma, she died in a hospital. The horrific incident took place in the guise of a rebel that unfortunately cost a young life. She was just 26, a charming, beautiful girl enthused about football. She fell prey to the religious atrocity and became the victim of patriarchal society and a dictatorial government.
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| Source: AlJazeera.com |
It was March 2019, Azadi Stadium(Iran) was hosting a league football match. The girl, Sahar was excited and willing to cheer up her favourite team in the stadium. It was not possible because Iran had prohibited women from attending football matches since 1981. However, with the huge pressure of FIFA and other international bodies that ban is lifted in world cup qualifier matches. Although Sahar was not so fortunate so she decided to enter the stadium disguised as a male fan. Unfortunately, she was caught by the stadium security. She spent three nights in jail and charged with ‘appearing in public without hijab’ and insulting officials’. She was yet to receive the verdict that might be the six months jail sentence but the depression, anger and humiliation led her to take her life as soon as she left the court.
‘Blue girl’ the name she was given, became the codeword for protest against the gender apathy over women’s appearance in public. Banning women from entering football stadiums is one of the rules against women including compulsory hijab for women. Since the Islamic revolution in 1979, Iran adopted a ruthless way against women disguised in modesty laws. These laws were facade of reforms that brought in while overthrowing the dictatorship of Reza Pahlavi in 1979. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei became the supreme leader and imposed modesty laws that restricted music, alcohol and banned women from appearing in public without covering their hairs.
It may be common in any other country for a girl to drive in an open car with the winds feeling the wind in her hair but it may lead her to the jail in Iran. HIjab is good or bad, we are not discussing the topic here but should it be enforced or should it be left to choose, is the matter of conflict for which Iranian women have been fighting for. Soon after the imposition of Hijab regulation, women of Iran have started protesting. Now they have gotten a face. Masih Alinejad started a movement against the compulsory wearing of Hijab or headscarf and it has been 5 years of struggle. She is living in self-imposed exile in the USA after getting multiple death threats and fear to get arrested in Iran. His father has stopped talking to her and her family is not allowed to leave the country. Despite that, her campaign is getting stronger day-by-day.
She started a social media movement with hashtag #mystealthyfreedom and that was joined by other movements such as #whitewedeneseday, #girlsofenghelabstreet and #mycameraismyweapon. Many other girls have been outspoken and appeared in public without a headscarf. They are aware of the police and government brutality but it has been sparking with the eagerness of absolute freedom. Protesters have faced a severe reaction from the government and reportedly more than 35 girls and women have been arrested since December 2017, only in Tehran. They were also warned that they could face 10 years of imprisonment if appeared in protest against the hijab. Harsh crackdown only gives more reasons to protest for rights and freedom.
A girl was Sahar Khodayri and a girl is Mesih Alinejad, have become a symbol of hope and revolution. Sahar They had to face torture and humiliation in their own country. Unfortunately, Sahar lost her patience and took her life but she would be in peace when in October 2019, Iranian women were allowed to enter the football stadium. It was not less than a victory for ‘Blue Girl.’ However, the fight of Mesih may require some more continuous efforts. Her campaign has already started having a global impact with the active participation of Iranian women. Recently she wrote a book ‘The Wind In My Hair.’ sharing her experience and her struggle. While it is true that voices cant be unheard for a long time, it requires a chorus rather than solo with continuous and repeated effort.
‘Blue girl’ the name she was given, became the codeword for protest against the gender apathy over women’s appearance in public. Banning women from entering football stadiums is one of the rules against women including compulsory hijab for women. Since the Islamic revolution in 1979, Iran adopted a ruthless way against women disguised in modesty laws. These laws were facade of reforms that brought in while overthrowing the dictatorship of Reza Pahlavi in 1979. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei became the supreme leader and imposed modesty laws that restricted music, alcohol and banned women from appearing in public without covering their hairs.
It may be common in any other country for a girl to drive in an open car with the winds feeling the wind in her hair but it may lead her to the jail in Iran. HIjab is good or bad, we are not discussing the topic here but should it be enforced or should it be left to choose, is the matter of conflict for which Iranian women have been fighting for. Soon after the imposition of Hijab regulation, women of Iran have started protesting. Now they have gotten a face. Masih Alinejad started a movement against the compulsory wearing of Hijab or headscarf and it has been 5 years of struggle. She is living in self-imposed exile in the USA after getting multiple death threats and fear to get arrested in Iran. His father has stopped talking to her and her family is not allowed to leave the country. Despite that, her campaign is getting stronger day-by-day.
She started a social media movement with hashtag #mystealthyfreedom and that was joined by other movements such as #whitewedeneseday, #girlsofenghelabstreet and #mycameraismyweapon. Many other girls have been outspoken and appeared in public without a headscarf. They are aware of the police and government brutality but it has been sparking with the eagerness of absolute freedom. Protesters have faced a severe reaction from the government and reportedly more than 35 girls and women have been arrested since December 2017, only in Tehran. They were also warned that they could face 10 years of imprisonment if appeared in protest against the hijab. Harsh crackdown only gives more reasons to protest for rights and freedom.
A girl was Sahar Khodayri and a girl is Mesih Alinejad, have become a symbol of hope and revolution. Sahar They had to face torture and humiliation in their own country. Unfortunately, Sahar lost her patience and took her life but she would be in peace when in October 2019, Iranian women were allowed to enter the football stadium. It was not less than a victory for ‘Blue Girl.’ However, the fight of Mesih may require some more continuous efforts. Her campaign has already started having a global impact with the active participation of Iranian women. Recently she wrote a book ‘The Wind In My Hair.’ sharing her experience and her struggle. While it is true that voices cant be unheard for a long time, it requires a chorus rather than solo with continuous and repeated effort.
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