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#BBCtrending: The women in Iran taking off the hijab

  • Published
    12 May 2014
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A woman standing on the top of a hill with her back to the camera and her arms outstretched - one of the images of the "My Stealthy Freedom" Facebook pageImage source, Facebook/آزادی های یواشکی زنان در ایران
ByBBC Trending
What's popular and why

Women across Iran are posting photos of themselves without the hijab to a dedicated Facebook page called "My Stealthy Freedom".

The Facebook page, external was set up just over a week ago, and already has 130,000 "likes". Almost all are from people in Iran, both men and women.

So far the page has around 150 photos. They show women on the beach, on the street, in the countryside, alone, with friends or their partners - but crucially - all without the headscarf. Most include a few words, for example: "I loathe the hijab. I too like the feel of the sun and the wind on my hair. Is this a big sin?"

A woman on the beach - one of the images of the "My Stealthy Freedom" Facebook pageImage source, Facebook/آزادی های یواشکی زنان در ایران

Ever since the Islamic Revolution 35 years ago, it has been illegal for a woman to leave the house without wearing a headscarf. The punishment ranges from a fine to imprisonment. "My hair was like a hostage to the government," says Masih Alinejad, an Iranian political journalist who lives in the UK and who set up the Facebook page. "The government still has a lot of hostages," she adds.

Alinejad got the idea after she posted some photos, external of herself without the hijab to her own Facebook page, external. The images were liked thousands of times. So many women began to send her their own pictures that she decided to set up a dedicated page. Though she's well-known for being critical of the government in Iran, she insists the page is not political. "These are not women activists, but just ordinary women talking from their hearts."

A woman without the hijab looks down to the street - one of the images of the "My Stealthy Freedom" Facebook pageImage source, Facebook/آزادی های یواشکی زنان در ایران

"My problem is not having to wear the headscarf. My problem is not having a choice," writes one woman on the Facebook page. "Stealthy freedom means, just for a few seconds, I will be what I want to be," writes another.

The hijab is a controversial issue in Iran. A recent billboard campaign, external reminding women to cover themselves up, was mocked on social media for comparing women to chocolates in a wrapper. But many support the wearing of the hijab, arguing it's an important part of Islamic law - there was a demonstration in Tehran, external last week, with protesters calling for a more strict implementation of the rules.

Reporting by Cordelia Hebblethwaite, external and Noushin Irani

Have you subscribed the BBC Trending podcast? You can do so here, external via iTunes or here

All our stories are at BBC.com/trending

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