Embracing Personal Choice: Fulfilling My Desire to Dress Freely

For some Muslim women, making the decision to stop wearing the hijab can be extremely challenging. They may face backlash from their family and community, and in certain countries, laws make it even more difficult. Iran recently passed a highly controversial bill that would impose harsher penalties, such as longer prison terms and higher fines, for women and girls who defy the strict dress code. The bill comes after widespread protests where women took to the streets and removed their hijabs. These protests were triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for allegedly wearing her hijab too loosely while in morality police custody. While many Muslim women choose to wear the hijab, those who want to remove it face immense pressure and may take years to gather the courage to do so. One woman, Ribell, shares her story of growing up in a conservative family in Iran, where she was forced to wear the chador, a full-body cloak. Despite dreaming of wearing more revealing clothing, Ribell was constantly reminded of the importance of the hijab and the consequences of not adhering to it. She eventually sought asylum in Turkey and now works as a tattoo artist. Ribell's experience is not uncommon, as many women struggle with the decision to remove their hijab. Mona Eltahawy, an Egyptian-American feminist activist, also faced challenges when she decided to take off her hijab. It took her several years to openly admit that she used to wear it due to feelings of shame. Eltahawy emphasizes that the protests in Iran go beyond politics and are a fight against oppression suffered by women and queer individuals in all facets of life. Some women in Iran, even those from religious and conservative families, have found support from their families after witnessing the recent protests. Bella Hassan, a Somali journalist working for the BBC World Service, was inspired by the Iranian protests and chose to remove her hijab while living in London. Although her decision caused backlash and threats of violence from men in her community, Hassan hopes that women in her country will one day have the courage to make their own choices instead of succumbing to societal expectations.