. Stockholm, Europe Brief News – A Swedish MEP cut her hair in the European Parliament in solidarity with Iranian protesting women.
“Until the women of Iran are free. We are going to stand with you”, said Iraqi-born Swedish MEP Abir Al-Sahlani as she cut her hair in front of MEPs in Strasbourg.
Over the past few weeks, women in Iran have been burning headscarves and cutting off their hair to protest the death of 22-year-old Masha Amini on 16 September after she was stopped by Iran’s morality police for allegedly not adhering to the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code.
Swedish MEP Abir Al-Sahlani cut her hair during a speech in the European Parliament, in an act of solidarity with those taking part in anti-government protests in Iran sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in morality police custody last month | Read more: https://t.co/ORpgnobrZ0 pic.twitter.com/WfbJtZAvM1
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) October 5, 2022
Protests across Europe
Similar shows of support were also reported across Europe in recent days.
In the Netherlands, hundreds of demonstrators marched to the Dutch Parliament in solidarity.
Meanwhile, visitors to Italy left locks of their hair in a transparent box at the reception. The act was also a symbol of solidarity with Iranian women.
The protesters will later deliver the box full of hair locks to the Iranian embassy in Rome.
“They need to know that they are not alone. They need to know that what they are asking, which are basic human rights, is something we want to fight alongside them.” says Giovanna Melandri, President of the MAXXI Contemporary Art Museum.
In Paris, French MPs and ministers also observed a minute of silence in the National Assembly, in “homage” to Iranians who have “paid with their lives for their fight for freedom”.
“I would like to recall with you the memory of Mrs Mahsa Amini. It was on 16 September last in Iran”, said Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the National Assembly.
“She was brutally arrested in the name of supposed virtue for a single strand of hair that protruded from her veil. She later died.
“Since then, women, men and all the youth of Iran have expressed their thirst for freedom.”
