Written by: Tara Mehr
“I’ve got too much hair, too much voice and I’m too much of a women for them” (Moorhead).
These are the words of Masih Alinejad, a 46-year old Iranian-American women's rights activist, journalist, author, news producer, and presenter. Growing up in Northern Iran, from a young age Alinejad recognized the subordinate status of Iranian women due to oppressive laws and abuse of power by the Islamic Republic of Iran after the revolution in 1979 when they came into rule. From the strict mandatory hijab to the unjust arrest and imprisonment of human rights activists all the way to the illegality of dancing in public, the list of oppressive tactics undergone by the Islamic Regime to rob the people of Iran of their basic human rights is far too long. This is why Alinejad has worked tirelessly to bring the issues of people in Iran to the forefront; specifically the women of Iran. Her continuous commitment to this cause has named her one of Time Magazine’s Women of the Year recently in March 2023.
(Image: (2023, March 2))
The impact of Alinejad on amplifying the voice of Iranians to a global stage is immense. As she explains in her eye-opening memoir published in 2018, “The Wind in My Hair: My Fight for Freedom in Modern Iran”, Alinejad was forced to go face-to-face with the brutality of the Islamic regime even from the age of 18, when she was arrested and sentenced to 3 years in prison in Iran for participating in a protest. As an aspiring news journalist and reporter, Alinejad found her voice to not just be unheard, but repressed. As such, she has been living in exile from Iran since 2009 but did not let this stop her from advocating for freedom in Iran. She may no longer be in close proximity to her homeland, but that is where her heart belongs.
Among some of her most impressive achievements is the creation of the campaign called “My Stealthy Freedom”, which opposed the laws of the Islamic regime by encouraging women in Iran to record themselves removing the compulsory hijab to show their hair, an act of civil disobedience. The movement began when Alinejad posted the following photo with the following caption:
“Whenever I run around in a free country and the wind blows through my hair I am reminded that I come from a country which for 30 years has held my hair as a hostage to the government” (Mohseni)
(Image: Moorhead)
Alinejad would publish photos with captions sent to her by women in Iran, mobilizing the movement via multiple social media platforms and sharing the experiences of women in Iran. Her ability to run such a successful social media campaign speaks to her leadership qualities as a women who takes action. It is important to remember that although the Stealthy Freedom campaign was empowering for many and gained a massive following, it did receive critiques as well; some Iranians found that the movement appealed to liberal feminists and furthered the narrative to ‘Other’ – those who enjoy and feel most comfortable wearing the hijab. However, Alinejad’s emphasis is on a woman's right to choose and regain agency over her bodily image.
Alinejad’s activism did not come without hardship and serious safety concerns; for example, in August 2022 a man armed with an assault rifle was found outside of Alinejad’s home and arrested by the FBI. There is even a bill in congress named after Alinejad, “The Masih Alinejad Harassment and Unlawful Targeting Act”, which sanctions individuals who act on behalf of the Iranian government to harass Iranians living abroad who are outspoken against the government. Despite the consequences of being an Iranian activist, Alinejad continuously brings attention to the conditions of women and individuals in Iran and propels the fight for change onto the international stage. She is the embodiment of strength and her work is crucial for the revolution; her bravery is to be admired as well as her tenacity.
Now, in light of the recent inhumane murder of 22-year old Mahsa Jina Amini by the morality police in Iran for improper wear of the mandatory hijab, protests have broken out and the slogan “Women Life Freedom” or “Zan Zendegi Azadi in Farsi, has been chanted throughout the streets of Iran and nationwide. Alinejad is outspoken now more than ever; she has been interviewed by multiple multinational news channels and spoken with public officials to pressure international communities to act. She stresses that “this is a revolution led by women” and that “there is no need for Mahsa Amini to be killed for the whole world to recognize and understand these brave women and repeat their voice”.
In October 2022 Alinejad received the Oxi Courage Award from The Washington Oxi Day Foundation, which is given to 1 man and women each year who have “taken courageous action that contributed to the promotion or preservation of freedom and democracy” (Oxi Courage Award). In her acceptance speech, she “dedicate[d] the award to the brave women inside Iran” (2022, November 1). This message needs to be remembered as the fight for freedom in Iran continues; women are not free until all women are free, and Alinejad is a role model who shows that we can amplify and use our powerful voices to spark a change that will affect generations to come.
Citations
Mohseni, A. (2015, September 19). My Stealthy Freedom, Part 1: A Page Is Born. Iran Wire.
Moorhead, J. (2018, June 3). The wind in my hair: One Iranian woman’s courageous struggle
against being forced to wear the hijab. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/global/2018/jun/03/the-wind-in-my-hair-one-womans-struggle-against-being-forced-to-wear-hijab
(2023, March 2). Iranian Dissident Masih Alinejad Won't Be Silenced. My Stealthy Freedom.
Rajvanshi, A. (2023, March 2). Iranian Dissident Masih Alinejad Won't Be
Silenced [Video]. Time Magazine. https://time.com/6259111/masih-alinejad/
[The Washington Oxi Day Foundation]. (2022, November 1). Masih Alinejad acceptance of Oxi
Courage Award [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nmov5NR8AUI
(n.d.). Oxi Courage Award. The Washington Oxi Day Foundation.
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