As a foreign woman in Iran, the most common question I’m asked is: “What do you think about hijab?” I can often work out what answer I’m expected to give, simply by looking at whoever is asking. Some obviously pious women, usually without a single strand of hair showing, want to tell me how they have been liberated …
Some well-known — and stirring — photos show large demonstrations in Iran against compulsory hijab, on 8 March 1979 and there are more photos here. But I just found a great colour video which make it clear the demonstrations continued for many more days: The Revolutionary spirit of the times is evident, with women declaring that …
The first part of this Bakhtiari poem is sung to a baby when it has woken up crying; the mother rocks the cradle whilst she sings. The second part is sung when the baby has gone to sleep – there is one version for boys, another for girls. The lullaby actually consists of more than …