The hijab-related protests in Iran have generated worldwide displays of solidarity with many celebrities as well as normal people cutting their hair to show their support for the women of Iran, currently fighting for their rights. This protest started after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for not covering her head with a Hijab and later died in police custody.
On Monday, Urvashi Rautela, the famous Indian Bollywood actor and celebrity shared a post via Instagram about Mahsa Amini's death and a picture of herself where a man was cutting her hair with scissors while she sat on the floor, her back toward the camera. Urvashi aimed to make this post in support of Iranian women and she captioned it: “CHOPPED MY HAIR OFF! cutting my hair in support of Iranian women and girls who have been killed in protests at the death of Mahsa Amini after her arrest by Iranian morality police & for all the other girls. And for the 19-year-old girl Ankita Bhandari from Uttarakhand. Around the world, women are uniting in protest against the Iranian government by cutting their hair. Respect Women. A Global Symbol For Women’s Revolution. Hair is seen as a symbol of the beauty of women. By chopping off hair in public, women are showing that they don’t care about society’s beauty standards and won’t let anything or anyone decide how they dress up, behave or live. Once women come together and consider one women’s issue as an issue of the entire womankind, feminism will see a new vigour. (sic)"
After she posted it on Instagram she got a mixed response from the audience, some seem to be convinced by the picture whereas others questioned her about an act she may not fully have a grasp around. Most of them didn’t believe her with the act with some users commenting, "Chopping off, like fully or partially?”.
In her earlier post, she compared herself with Mahsa Amini for being ‘bullied’ and wrote “First in Iran Mahsa Amini and now in India… it’s happening with me they’re bullying me as a stalker??? No one cares about me or supports me… A strong woman is one who feels deeply and loves fiercely. Her tears flow as abundantly as her laughter. She is both soft and powerful, both practical and spiritual. She’s a gift to the world.”
The demise of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody last month has triggered extensive anti-government protests in Iran and elsewhere, with demonstrators taking to the streets and celebs like Priyanka Chopra posting messages on social media in a show of solidarity for Iranian women. Mahsa was arrested by morality police for failing to wear the hijab, and she died days later in custody, as per reports. In the weeks since, women in Iran have been removing their headscarves and cutting their hair protesting for their right to life and attire, trying to draw the attention of the powers-that-be to their right to this basic freedom.
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