When the demonstrations in Iran were discussed in the EU Parliament on Tuesday evening, the Center Party politician Abir Al-Sahlani directed harsh criticism at the head of foreign affairs in the parliament. On the podium, she spoke, among other things, about the courage that Iranian women have shown during the violent demonstrations. – A courage that has not been met by you, Josep Borrell, when you did not take the chance in the UN General Assembly to take a clear stand for the women in Iran, she said and turned to the EU foreign affairs chief. She then took out a pair of scissors that she had hidden under her papers, and cut off her hair. – Until the women in Iran are free, we will stand by their side, said Al-Sahlani as she proceeded to cut. A video published by several Swedish media shows that she even spoke by raising her hand with her hair in it and saying: – Women, life, freedom. – Very sorry There have been large demonstrations all over Iran since 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in custody of the Iranian police on 16 September. Amini was arrested by the so-called morality police for “wrong” use of the hijab. In the aftermath of the death, several women have burnt their hijabs and cut off their hair in protest. Day after day, women in Iran take to the streets and shout that they want freedom, and they are met with violence, says the Swedish politician to newspaper Aftonbladet. She believes that this courage will not be reciprocated. – I’m so damn tired of these old men’s mumbling, especially when it comes to women’s dishes. I did it to show that the voice of the Iranian women is heard all the way here, says Al-Sahlani. According to Al-Sahlani, the head of foreign affairs in the parliament, Josef Borrell, must have reacted when she cut off her hair. – He sat and gaped, literally, she says to Aftonbladet. Iranian women cut off their hair in protest. – Wanted to do something tangible. Al-Sahlani tells Aftonbladet that it is a tradition for women in Iran to cut their hair when they are angry. She comes from the neighboring country of Iraq, but says that she herself shaved off her hair as a young woman to rebel. When the journalist in Aftonbladet asks Al-Sahlani how it was to do it in the EU parliament, she replies: – It feels completely right, I needed to do something more than just say things. I wanted to do something tangible. She got reactions to the stunt, and says that many people came up to her afterwards and gave her a hug. – Many people came over and hugged me. It was clear that I was very upset and frustrated, she says to the Swedish newspaper.
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Swedish politician cut off his hair in the EU parliament – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
