January 9th 2025.
There's a viral video making the rounds on social media that captures the brave actions of an Iranian woman at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran. The footage shows her confronting a mullah who allegedly scolded her for not wearing a headscarf. In a moment of defiance, the woman snatched off the mullah's turban and used it as a head covering for herself. It's a powerful visual of resistance against the strict dress code imposed by the Iranian regime.
The video, which was first published on January 6, was shared by journalist and activist Masih Alinejad. She praised the woman's bold act and highlighted the significance of her actions. For years, the clerics in Iran have claimed that their turbans and robes are sacred and untouchable. But this woman's act of protest shattered that myth and turned oppression into resistance. Alinejad also pointed out that Iranian women are tired and angry about the regime's oppressive policies towards women.
However, the Iranian authorities are denying that the incident was related to the mandatory hijab laws. A news agency linked with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claims that the woman has "severe psychological issues" and had attacked multiple people at the airport without provocation. This is not the first time that the regime has used mental illness as a tool to repress and discredit its critics, especially women. In the aftermath of the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests, several women who were arrested for violating the country's hijab law were labeled as "psychologically unstable."
This tactic of using mental illness to silence dissent has been ramped up in recent years. In November, a young woman who undressed herself in public as a form of protest against harassment was forcibly transferred to a psychiatric hospital and labeled as mentally ill. And just days after that, the regime announced the opening of a mental health clinic for women who refuse to wear a hijab. Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of Iran Human Rights, has condemned this practice, stating that the authorities use involuntary psychiatric hospitalization as a way to suppress dissent and undermine the credibility of protesters.
The incident at Mehrabad Airport and the response from the regime highlights the ongoing struggle for women's rights in Iran. The courage of this unnamed woman and her act of defiance serves as a powerful reminder that change and progress often come from individuals who are willing to challenge the status quo. And while the regime may try to discredit and silence these voices, the impact of their actions cannot be denied.
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