Amid protests across Iran, many women have adopted the powerful symbol of cutting their hair. This act serves as both a protest against oppression and a defiance of the compulsory hijab laws imposed on women. It also honors Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic’s modesty laws. The protests, which began on September 16, 2022, have been led by women from various sectors of Iranian society and have quickly expanded to express broader dissatisfaction with women’s rights and government corruption. According to the Norway-based nonprofit Iran Human Rights, at least 154 people have been killed during the protests, with hundreds more arrested amid violent crackdowns.
