Hijab protests: Iranian women publicly remove veils to raise their voices

For months, protests against the hijab have been gaining traction in Iran. Human rights foundations had urged women to use '#No2Hijab' on social media, along with the videos

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.

Masih Alinejab, a US-based Iranian journalist and activist, tweeted her video supporting the Iran hijab protest and wrote, "As we promised! We remove our hijabs and I hope everyone joins us. Forcing women to wear hijab is not part of Iranian’s culture. It is the culture of the Taliban, ISIS and the Islamic Republic. Enough is enough. #No2Hijab"

Alinejab launched the 'My Stealthy Freedom' campaign on Facebook in 2014, where she shared the pictures of unveiled women sent to her.

For months, protests against the hijab have been gaining traction in the republic. Human rights foundations had urged women to use '#No2Hijab' on social media, along with the videos. Iran's high inflation, low pensions and unpaid wages added fuel to the fire.  

What is the National Day of Hijab and Chastity?

Iran has had a strict hijab rule since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Women and girls above the age of 9 must wear a head cover in public.

Every year, July 12 is observed as the National Day of the Hijab and Chastity in Iran to promote the veil. The day was chosen as hijab and chastity day to commemorate protests that took place in 1935 in Mashhad after then ruler of Iran Reza Shah banned women from wearing Islamic veils, according to The Jerusalem Post.

According to a report by Reuters, the current government has taken a stricter stance toward the hijab rules. This year too, as the protests were taking place across the country, the government organised a 'chastity ceremony' in a stadium in Tehran.  

It also aired a video showing 13 women in a 'Hijab and Chastity' ceremony. The women could be seen wearing green hijabs and long white robes, dancing to the narration of verses from the Quran.

However, with the protests, Iranian women have found a hero in social media. The hashtag #hijab_without_hijab was reportedly the second most tweeted hashtag in the country.