Photography — Ali Dolati
Hair & Makeup Artist — Farrah Sanei
Model — Saina Sooren
Written by — Hedieh Safiyari
Edited by — Christopher Dallin
Woman Life Freedom!
The Courage of Women is at the Heart of a Re-imagined Iran
In 1979, Iranians voted in a national referendum for a new theocratic-republican constitution. This referendum drove the Shah from power officially, leading to the Islamic republic’s establishment in 1979. However, the revolution ended both the westernization and modernization of Iran.
And there were consequences. Iran was alienated from the West, and women’s rights were drastically reduced. The monarchy was abolished, and religious leaders took long-term government control. Since 1979 there have been many protests challenging the strict religious tenants of the new regime. Many Iranians said, “This is not what we signed up for.” But the demonstrations were shut down every time, and thousands were executed.
Now, 44 years later, the women of Iran are daring to imagine a new future for themselves and the entire country. Since September 2022, women and men alike have taken to the streets to protest the Islamic Republic’s oppressive government. It started with the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was arrested by morality police in Tehran on September 13, 2022, for allegedly violating Iran’s strict rules requiring women to cover their hair with a hijab or headscarf.
Mahsa’s death ignited a fire in the heart of the nation. Since then, so much has happened. #MahsaAmini has become a code word for rebellious Iranians. Mahsa has become a symbol of liberty. “Woman life freedom” is the new rallying cry of dissent.
Dance of Freedom
Recreated from a real photo of a girl dancing in front of Azadi square without compulsory Hijab as a civil disobedience against disregard of human rights by the regime in Iran.
P.S. The term “Azadi” means “freedom”
The Reality of Life for Women in Iran
Iran has 87 million people, and over half of them are women. The fact is, 97%percent of these women are literate, and more than 60% are university educated. Never before have so many women been educated as professionals, including journalists, doctors, lawyers, engineers, and artists. Despite this fact, women and girls get treated as second-class citizens. And this simple fact is at the heart of the biggest women-led revolution in the world. Suppress intelligent people for four decades, and madness happens. Women are rising and saying, “enough is enough!”
Women in Iran face discrimination in law, marriage and divorce, inheritance, child custody, nationality and international travel. This movement goes way beyond the mandatory hijab law — it’s about gender apartheid. It’s about the complete lack of free expression, unfair trials, forced confessions, killings, torture, corruption and theocracy.
Courage is at the heart of the movement. Iranian women are leading the charge, and the world is taking notice. In fact, Iranian women made the cover of the December issue of Time magazine as “Heroes of the Year.” This heroism has also inspired men and united a nation — and the whole world is watching.
Tying Hair
Recreated from a real photo of a girl getting ready to join the protests that has become viral on social media. Many people have practised this action to show their support of the protests.
This Time it’s Different
As we enter the 5th month of dissent, nationwide protests continue strong in Iran despite nearly hundreds of people (including children) killed and thousands of protesters detained, threatened, executed and massacred. In certain parts of Iran, people are fighting with empty hands.
Out of Iran’s roughly 87 million population, 60% are young Gen Y and Z’s on the streets fighting. They are the same people who saw the protests and killings of 2009 (as children) and the protests and killings in 2019 (in their teens). They’ve been born into a world of information and have communication technology at their fingertips. Today they are sending over a million tweets an hour in support of their sister #MahsaAmini. That is a vast number of educated, well-informed people who feel they have nothing to lose.
This time, though, there is much international attention, and the world is rising to show solidarity with the movement.
Shervin’s song “Baraye” or “Because of” is the movement’s anthem. He created the song from a series of other people’s tweets that describe their personal reasons why they don’t want the current regime in power anymore. Specifically, the violation of fundamental human rights over the past 44 years. The song was nominated for the Grammy Awards under a new special merit category which honours songs dedicated to social change. Musicians worldwide sing “Baraye” on every stage, including Coldplay in Buenos Aires in 2022. Iranians around the world are participating in protests week after week to show solidarity. Iranian actresses show their solidarity by unveiling their hijab. Iranian athletes stay silent when they are supposed to sing the national anthem, including during the World Cup.
P.S. The song “Baraye” from Shervin Hajipour won the Grammy Awards 2023, Song for Social Change
Celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Roger Waters, Tony Robins, Ellen DeGeneres and more showed their support and solidarity with Iran. Women leaders globally, including Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Laura Bush and more, signed a letter calling for the United Nations to remove the Islamic Republic of Iran from the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Politicians internationally, one by one, began making official statements in support of the uprising. Major news channels like CNN started investigating and releasing brutal confessions and stories about the regime’s crimes. The United Nations had finally heard all of the voices. They held a special session on Iran for the first time in its history, with the majority of its board voting to condemn them for human rights violations in Iran and establishing a fact-finding mission to investigate the regime’s crimes for the first time.
The protests continue for the roughly 8 million Iranians living abroad, including those in Canada. This is more than a movement. It’s a revolution — rooted in liberation, freedom and the courageous hearts of women. I believe I sense the gratifying scent of victory.
Long live women, long live freedom, and long live Iran.