In a bold act of defiance against Iran’s strict Islamic dress code, a young woman stripped down to her underwear at a branch of Islamic Azad University on Saturday. Videos and reports circulating online show the unidentified woman being detained by security guards. The incident has sparked heated debate about the woman’s intentions and the government’s response.
While university spokesperson Amir Mahjob attributed the woman’s actions to severe mental pressure and a mental disorder, social media users widely interpreted the incident as a deliberate protest. Many pointed out that such an act would be deeply embarrassing for most women, and suggested that the woman’s choice to expose herself was a calculated challenge to the mandatory hijab rules.
One X user, Lei La, commented on the video, saying, “For most women, being… in their underwear in public is one of their worst nightmares… This is a reaction to the (authorities’) stupid insistence on the mandatory hijab.”
The fate of the woman remains unclear. However, the daily newspaper Hamshahri reported that an informed source indicated the woman likely suffers from severe mental problems and would be transferred to a mental hospital after investigations.
This incident comes amidst a backdrop of growing defiance against Iran’s hijab law. Since the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in September 2022 for allegedly violating the hijab rules, nationwide protests have erupted, with many women openly discarding their veils. The government has responded with brutal force, cracking down on protests and silencing dissent.
The woman’s actions at the university, whether a desperate cry for help or a deliberate act of protest, highlight the ongoing tension between the Iranian government and its citizens, particularly women, who continue to resist the enforced hijab regulations. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the high stakes involved in challenging the deeply entrenched patriarchal system in Iran, where the struggle for individual freedom and bodily autonomy remains fierce.
