The Iraqi-born Swedish parliamentarian cuts her hair in solidarity with Iranian women
Wielding a pair of scissors, Iraqi-born Swedish MP Abir Al-Sahlani said “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi” – Kurdish for “Woman, Life, Freedom” – as she cut off her ponytail.
Iraqi-born Swedish MP Abir Al-Sahlani said “until the women of Iran are free, we will stand with you” in the EU Parliament [Thierry Monasse/Getty-file photo]
A Swedish member of the European Parliament cut off his hair during a speech in the European Parliament in solidarity with anti-government demonstrations in Iran ignited by the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.
“Until Iran is free, our rage will be greater than the oppressors. Until the women of Iran are free, we will stand with you,” Iraqi-born Abir Al-Sahlani said in parliament in the French city of Strasbourg on Tuesday night.
Then she took a pair of scissors and said “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi” — Kurdish for “Woman, Life, Freedom” — as she cut off her ponytail.
Leading French actresses including Juliette Binoche and Isabelle Huppert have also cut their hair in protest at Amini’s death after she was arrested in Tehran on September 13 for allegedly wearing her hijab “improperly”.
Iran’s clerical rulers have grappled with the biggest nationwide unrest in years since her death and protests have spread abroad, including Erbil, the capital of Iraqi KurdistanLondon, Paris, Rome and Madrid in solidarity with Iranian protesters.
Amini’s Kurdish name can be spelled as “Jina” or “Zhina”.
(Reuters)