#whitewednesdays: Iranian Women Protest Strict Dress Code

Originally reported by: She The People, and BBC

Women in Iran are posting pictures of themselves on social media wearing white and without headscarves under the hash tag #whitewednesdays. The campaign is in protest of Iran’s strict dress codes, particularly the 1979 law that requires women to cover their hair.

The activist and founder of My Stealthy Freedom Masih Alinejad started the campaign 5 weeks ago to voice her concerns over the laws and provide a platform for women to protest and express themselves. So far the campaign has received over 3000 contributions from women of all ages in Iran and has even received some contributions from Saudi Arabia where the hijab is also mandatory.  

(Posted on My Stealthy Freedom)

The campaign is risky, as women in Iran can face fines or arrest for being in public without covering their hair. However, many of the participants see the protest against the laws as vital for securing a more equal future for their daughters. One women posted: 

“…even if this leads me to jail and sleeping with cockroaches, it would be worth it to help the next generation.”

Alinejad has faced a significant backlash for her activism, with Iran's Tasnim news agency publishing a photo of her with her husband calling her a prostitute. She has now lived in self-imposed exile in the US since 2009 and cannot return to her home country for fear of arrest.