Iranian security forces arrested a woman for eating at a restaurant in public without her hijab. According to her family, a photo of her and another woman eating at a restaurant in Tehran without their headscarves was widely circulated online.
The photo was published online on Wednesday, September 28, and showed two women having breakfast at a cafe. One of the women in the photo, Donya Rad was arrested on Friday.
Iranian Woman Arrested For Eating At Restaurant Without Hijab
Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad shared the news on Twitter. She wrote, “The woman who posted this photo got arrested for the crime of having breakfast without hijab! This is the horrific story of being a woman in Iran in 21st century.”
Alinejad added that women in Iran would continue their civil disobedience every day. She shared the photograph of Rad and another woman eating at the cafe without their hijabs.
The photograph was shared on social media by users who applauded the women for their civil disobedience in the face of Iran’s strict hijab law and dress code for women.
Donya Rad’s sister spoke to CNN and said that security agencies contacted Rad and summoned her to explain her actions. She said, “After visiting the designated place she was arrested, after a few hours of no news, Donya told me in a short call that she was transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison”.
Protests broke out in Iran after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in the custody of morality police. After weeks of protest, Iranian authorities followed through with their threats to “deal” with protestors and celebrities that publically voiced their support.
Reportedly, a popular Iranian singer Shervin Hajipour was taken into custody after he wrote a ballad in response to Amini’s death. His song, For, was composed of anti-government tweets posted by Iranians after news of Amini’s death.
Hajipour posted the song on his Instagram account and was forced by the authorities to take the post down. He was later arrested.
A state-run news agency reported that former Iranian international football player Hossein Manahi was arrested on Friday after supporting the protests on his social media.
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