Iranian women call on Western tourists to violate hijab law to fight oppression

[GennGreymane]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...-a6996136.html

As more and more Western tourists visit Iran, foreign women are being urged to break the country’s strict Islamic dress code to “make a stand” about the restrictive laws.

It is illegal for women to go out in public without wearing headscarf in the country, where thousands of undercover agents and “morality police” patrol the streets to check for violations.

Women found to have their hair or bodies inadequately covered can be publicly admonished, fined or even arrested.

But thousands of Iranians have been risking punishment by taking off their hijabs (headscarves) in public and snapping photos as part of a defiant online campaign to counter the “oppressive" law.

Now, the founder of My Stealthy Freedom is urging Western tourists to join them in a show of solidarity.

Masih Alinejad, who left Iran in 2009 and now works as a journalist in New York, said non-Muslims should join the fight against compulsory dress codes.

“The Islamic Republic that demands even non-Muslims visiting Iran to wear the hijab,” she told The Independent. “When compulsory hijab affects all women, then all women should raise their voice.”

Ms Alinejad said she was inspired by the actions of an Air France cabin crew who refused to fly to Iran after being ordered to wear headscarves upon arrival in Tehran earlier this month.

The airline has now given staff the option to opt out of flights to the Iranian capital if they do not want to comply with the rule, which also applies during stop-overs in Saudi Arabia.

Many international carriers have resumed flights to the country since the UK, US and other nations declared it formally safe for travel after an agreement on the government’s nuclear ambitions was struck.

“After decades of isolation, Iran after the nuclear deal is seen as a cool place to visit,” Ms Alinejad.

“The country is being promoted as one of the last placed on earth not to be touched by crass consumerism and commercialism.

“Iran is a beautiful country but let's not kid ourselves, it's not heaven for women. As more people visit Iran, the women in particular will gain a sense of the issue.”

The campaigner said she had received emails from female tourists from the UK, Belgium, Sweden and other nations saying they had felt uncomfortable being forced to wear the hijab on their holidays.

Many women travelling to the country have already responded to her call to share a “stealthy freedom” photo of themselves with the hashtag #SeeYouInIranWithoutHijab

“I thought it would be easy (to wear the headscarf) but after two weeks, my opinion really changed,” a Belgian woman wrote. “I hated it every minute of the day.”

Another tourist said the restrictions made her “feel like a slaves”, while another woman wrote that she felt unable to express herself.

All the women whose pictures are published on the My Stealthy Freedom Facebook page, which has grown to have almost a million followers in two years, have since left Iran.

Asked about the risk women are taking to join the campaign, Ms Alinejad said she believes Western women are less likely to be punished than Iranians.

“Iran wants to attract tourists and in general will turn a blind eye to discretions by them,” she added.

Travel advice issued to British citizens by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office urges visitors to respect Iran’s traditions and laws, while “ensuring actions do not offend”.

It recommends that women wear headscarves in public places, along with trousers or full-length skirts and long-sleeved tunics and coats.

Relationships between non-Muslim men and Muslim women are also illegal, in Iran and punishable by whipping (for the women), although few Westerners have been prosecuted.

[Azadina]

Instead of telling western women to go visit and risk their life, why don't they do what they suggest themselves?

[GennGreymane]

Instead of telling western women to go visit and risk their life, why don't they do what they suggest themselves?

But thousands of Iranians have been risking punishment by taking off their hijabs (headscarves) in public and snapping photos as part of a defiant online campaign to counter the “oppressive" law.

they are
/10

[May90]

Seems like an interesting idea. Tourists in Iran have bigger freedoms than Iranian citizens, and while for the latter it is dangerous to break the law this way, Western tourists risk little by doing that and, at worst, would probably have to pay fine, but likely just asked to put a hijab on. And if a lot of tourists make such a stand, it is possible that the authorities will stop caring about it much, and then slowly Iranian women will gain the opportunity to do the same without fearing for their life.

Wouldn't recommend doing it in Saudi Arabia though. Those guys are mean, they don't give strangers discounts.

[Forgettable]

Good to see at least some of the population has good sense there.

[BuckSparkles]

If I was a woman, I would rather not risk my life to visit Iran and break their rules.

[dd614]

I hope western feminists tell these uppity Muslim women that there are more important things to take care of like manspreading, large breasts on video game characters or Donald Trump's tweets.

[Azadina]

they are
/10

Thousands in country of 80 million is not enough. Good start, but alot more of them needs to join for it.

If I was a woman, I would rather not risk my life to visit Iran and break their rules.

Yeah, I wouldn't go there and do that.

[Alydael]

Maybe they should call on the Iranian men to actually stand up for their women and stop being creeps... Just a thought...

[Rukh]

I hope western feminists tell these uppity Muslim women that there are more important things to take care of like manspreading, large breasts on video game characters or Donald Trump's tweets.

Or derailing subjects with trolling?

[Stone the Crow]

I hope western feminists tell these uppity Muslim women that there are more important things to take care of like manspreading, large breasts on video game characters or Donald Trump's tweets.

Amen.

Those are the real problems women face.

[BuckSparkles]

Yeah, I wouldn't go there and do that.

Wise move.

We agreed on something.

Quick, the internet needs to explode.

[Belize]

Didn't a couple of foreign journalist get locked up in Iran for "perceived" wrongdoings?

I can't imagine actually breaking laws, jesus.

[GennGreymane]

Wise move.

We agreed on something.

Quick, the internet needs to explode.

minus 10...9....8

[BuckSparkles]

minus 10...9....8

Actually, I suppose that wouldn't make sense. I disagree with her quite a bit. But she doesn't bother me.

There are some people on mmo-c though....much annoyance @_@

[Samitsu]

Yeah Iran used to be a decent place, then islam happened.
Poor people.

Oh wait, I'm not allowed to criticize religion in here, I mean, someone could have their feelings hurt.

[GennGreymane]

Actually, I suppose that wouldn't make sense. I disagree with her quite a bit. But she doesn't bother me.

There are some people on mmo-c though....much annoyance @_@

7....6......5

[BuckSparkles]

7....6......5

I don't want to die.



I doubt Linadra does either.

[GennGreymane]

i don't want to die.



i doubt linadra does either.

4...3....2....1.....

Ice cream!!!!!!1

[Crissi]

I get why they are asking, but I regard civil disobedience to be a matter for the residents. To that end, I rather pressure by not giving them my tourist dollars at all.