A young woman climbs to the top of a car in the middle of Mashhad, a conservative Iranian city famed for its Islamic shrines. She takes off her headscarf and starts chanting, “Death to the dictator!” Protesters nearby join in and cars honk in support.For many Iranian women, it’s an image that would have been unthinkable just a decade ago, said Fatemeh Shams, who grew up in Mashhad.“When you see Mashhad women coming to the streets and burning the…
Many Iranian women have long played a game of cat-and-mouse with authorities, with younger generations wearing loose scarves and outfits that push boundaries of conservative dress
Protests over hijab law seen as challenge to Islamic Republic's entire system of religious rule: 'People are coming to the streets to find a meter of space to shout their rage'
Women protesting the death of Mahsa Amini are targeting the compulsory veil – something central to the identity of Iran’s Islamic cleric-led rule. The protests are drawing on a long tradition of resistance among Iranian women.