Why some men in Iran are posing with hijabs

Dubai: Over the past week, social media channels saw a number of men in Iran posting photos wearing hijab. They posed with their wives or a female relatives who had their hair uncovered.

These men are using social media to protest how women are forced to wear hijab in the country. It all began when Masih Alinejad, an Iranian activist and journalist living in New York, urged men to support her “My Stealthy Freedom” campaign. Since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, it has become mandatory for women to cover their hair in public. Women who do not wear a hijab or are considered to be wearing a ‘bad hijab’ by having some of their hair showing, face punishments like fines or imprisonment.

On her Facebook page Alinejad, shared photos of women living in Iran enjoying a moment of ‘freedom’ by taking their hijab off outside of a domestic setting. Now, she’s asking men to support her campaign with the #meninhijab hashtag and by sharing pictures with their heads covered while women pose without hijabs.

Users replying to the posts were mostly supportive and encouraged freedom for women.

Facebook user Linda Verstraten commented: “Men and women should be free to choose how to live their lives and how to dress is part of that... It’s so great to see how men support women in their struggle for freedom and equality!”

Many users expressed appreciation for men participating in the campaign. Facebook user Lucas Vogelius wrote: “Protest and solidarity in the best way: men and women standing united against oppression - united in a common cause and struggle for liberty, liberality and freedom.”