A woman living in France was filmed removing and burning a headscarf and loose-fitting clothes on what she said was her birthday, February 2, as a sign of solidarity with Iranian women protesting mandatory hijab laws.
She also dedicated the burning of what she called “a symbol of oppression” to oppressed women everywhere.
Anoud Al Ali, who described herself as a 20-year-old Emirati living in France, told Storyful that she had left Islam after facing a lot of abuse in its name and that burning the garments was a “way to move on from the past” as well as to show support with women forced to wear the hijab.
Iranian news reported, on the same day as Al Ali’s video was recorded, that 29 people were arrested for taking part in anti-hijab protests around the country.
Videos of Iranians removing or waving hijabs have been posted online since late January, when footage of Vida Movahed’s Tehran protest against the hijab laws was shared widely. Movahed was arrested for the protest and later released. Credit: Anoud Al Ali via Storyful
