#MenInHijab campaign sees Iranian men wear headscarves to back women's rights
Swathes of men in Iran are posting pictures of themselves wearing a hijab as part of a campaign protesting against a law that makes it compulsory for women to wear them.
#meninhijab
The #MenInHijab campaign was created by online social movement My Stealthy Freedom, which was started by Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad in 2014. The campaign aims to show solidarity with women who have been forced to cover their hair in public since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
Hundreds of images have been posted on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram showing men wearing scarves accompanied by female relatives.
“We are not against the hijab. If you want to wear it, you should wear it. Women in Iran don’t have a choice,” Alinejad told The Huffington Post. “There are people who say ‘This is a cultural issue, we shouldn’t get involved.’ No. This is a human rights issue. We must not be silent.”
For a world with freedom and respect to everyone. Women should be able to chose. This is unnatural. #meninhijab #politics #humanrights A photo posted by Bernat Añaños Martínez (@verdgris) on
Islamic law dictates that in any public place women must cover their heads with a headscarf, wear trousers or a floor length skirt, and a long-sleeved tunic or coat that reaches to mid-thigh or knee. The country has 'morality police' called Gashte Ershad on patrol who have the power to chastise or arrest women who aren't appropriately covering their hair or for wearing bright colours and make up.