Ahoo Daryaei

Ahoo Daryaei (Persian: آهو دریایی, romanized: Āhū Daryāyī., pronounced [ɒːˈhuː dæɾjɒːˈjiː]) is a 30-year-old Iranian doctoral student in French literature at Tehran's Islamic Azad University. After being confronted and reportedly harassed by Basij paramilitary forces (who allegedly tore her clothing during the altercation) she protested against the compulsory hijab on November 2, 2024, by removing her clothes and sitting partially undressed in the university courtyard.

Her bold action on November 2, 2024, has turned her into a symbol of resistance against Iran's strict dress code laws and the enforcement of the compulsory hijab, especially two years after the death of Mahsa Amini. Her protest and subsequent arrest have drawn international attention, with human rights organizations calling for her release. As of November 2024, she remains detained.

Context

Since the nationwide protests in September 2022, sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a growing number of Iranian women have been actively resisting the country's mandatory headscarf laws. This movement has seen women publicly removing their hijabs, sharing images and videos on social media, and participating in demonstrations advocating for personal freedoms and women's rights. Despite facing significant risks, including arrests and harassment, these protests of defiance have continued, highlighting a persistent challenge to Iran's strict dress code regulations.

November 2, 2024

On November 2, 2024, Ahoo Daryaei became the center of a high-profile protest incident at Tehran’s Islamic Azad University. According to witnesses, Daryaei was confronted by university security forces and members of the Basij paramilitary for not wearing her headscarf according to the strict dress code.

During the altercation, members of the Basij, a paramilitary group associated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, allegedly tore her sweater in an attempt to enforce the mandated hijab. According to political scientist Mahnaz Shirali, the confrontation escalated when Daryaei, now partially disrobed, reacted by removing her remaining clothes and sitting in her underwear in the campus courtyard. "In response, she removed her remaining clothing in frustration and sat in her underwear in the campus courtyard," Shirali stated.

Daryaei then walked onto the street in her bra and panties, further protesting the enforced hijab laws in an act of public defiance. The protest was captured on video by onlookers, and footage quickly circulated on social media, drawing widespread attention both within Iran and internationally.

Aftermath

Daryaei was subsequently arrested by plainclothes officers and detained. Her whereabouts and condition remain unknown, with reports suggesting she may be held in a psychiatric facility. In Iran, authorities have a documented history of labeling women who defy compulsory hijab laws as mentally ill, using this as a tactic to suppress dissent. Amnesty International and other human rights organizations have called for her immediate and unconditional release, underscoring the need for an independent investigation into the alleged abuse during her arrest. The National Secular Society has called on the UK Government to press Iranian authorities for the release of a woman detained after protesting against Iran's hijab laws.

Daryaei faces severe legal consequences for her protest, including potential charges that could lead to the death penalty for "moral offenses," according to political scientist Mahnaz Shirali. Sociologist Azadeh Kian added that if psychiatric issues are ruled out, Daryaei may face flogging, imprisonment, and possibly a lengthy sentence under accusations of "debauchery" or "prostitution." The crackdown on such dissent remains deeply rooted in the Islamic Republic's policies, even following President Masoud Pezeshkian's election in July.

See also

• Mahsa Amini protests
• Women in Iran