An Iranian Protestor describes why she cut her hair

Unprecedented protests continue in Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman. One image stands out: women slicing their hair to defy the country’s morality police.

TikTok videos and Twitter photos show protestors cutting their hair and dancing in their hijab. Social media users have adopted the slogan «No to the headscarf», «Yes to the turban», as a common theme.

Allure spoke with an Iranian woman last week. She asked for anonymity out of fear of reprisal. The woman sent a direct message to Twitter, saying that «Here are people dying on the streets and our internet is cut.» «I feel extreme, insoluble pain and misery.»

The 18-year-old woman was inspired to get a pair of scissors and start cutting her hair. The woman, who is now in her 20s, shows no emotion as she cuts at her shoulder-length hair in a video that she posted to Twitter.

The woman says, «I feel frustrated. I feel desperate. So, I decided to show my dissidence and cut my hair.»

Iran protests started over the death Amini, who was visiting her family in Tehran. However, Allure spoke with a woman who said she is familiar with the situation.

She also mentions two other high profile killings that sparked protests in Iran: Neda AGHA-Soltan was shot near a demonstration against a disputed presidency election in 2009, and Satar BEHESHTI, a blogger killed in custody in 2012 for criticizing the government’s Facebook page.

The woman stated, «I won’t allow another of my compatriots’ names to become a hashtag on Twitter.»

Before the Iranian government made the internet unavailable across Iran, the woman was able speak. According to the New York Times the State Department and other intelligence agencies have been trying to link Iranian protestors to Starlink, which is a satellite system owned Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Reuters reports, however, that internet access is still blocked in Iran and that Iranian state media portrays protestors as «hypocrites rioters, thugs, and seditionists» and that security forces used teargas, clubs, and in some cases live ammunition on protestors in multiple Iranian cities.

The Iranian government claimed that Amini died from a heart attack, but her family disagrees. BBC News reported that her father said his daughter was healthy and didn’t have any health issues before she was taken into custody for not covering her head. According to the AP, witnesses reported that Amini was beaten by police in a patrol cover. She died from a skull fracture probably caused by «heavy blows» to her head.

Since the protests started 10 days ago, at least 41 people were killed. However, the true death toll could be higher and likely underestimated. According to Reuters, Iranian activists called for a «nationwide strikes.» BBC News reported that multiple women were held and threatened by police while in custody. Videos verified by BBC also show security officers being instructed to «shoot» protestors. Women have demonstrated solidarity in protests outside of Iran by taking part in demonstrations in major European and American cities.

The woman who cut her hair said that she really appreciated the courage of Iranian women and men who were shot on street.» «I am proud of my Iranian friends.» She requests that everyone around the globe continue to share news from Iran and speak out against its brutal regime. CNN reported that some citizens were able to access the internet despite the blackout. Hossein Amirabdollahian, Iran’s foreign minister, told NPR Tuesday that there is no regime change in Iran.

She says, «It’s unsafe.» «Please join us in our voices.»