The Current

Iranian women defy laws, shed hijabs in 'My Stealthy Freedom' campaign

Muslim women are fighting to wear the niqab in Canada. But in Iran, women are risking arrest - and even lashes - for trying to take their head coverings off. We hear from Iranian journalist Masih Alinejah who has drawn the ire of the Iranian government for her Facebook campaign, My Stealthy Freedom.
Women in Iran have been posting 'stealthy' pictures of themselves taking off their hijabs in public. In Iran it is illegal for women to leave the house without wearing a headscarf. (Facebook)

Muslim women are fighting to wear the niqab in Canada. But in Iran, women are risking arrest - and even lashes - for trying to take their head coverings off. 

Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad created My Stealthy Freedom, a Facebook page where thousands of Iranian women are posting videos and pictures of themselves without wearing the mandatory head covering. The page has garnered more than 750,000 likes and has drawn the ire of the Iranian government at the same time.  

Masih Alinejad won the United Nations Women's Rights Award for the campaign. We reached her in London.

This segment was produced by The Current's intern Samira Mohyeddin​.