An Iranian model has caused a stir with her decision to wear a noose-style dress to the Cannes Film Festival to protest the regime’s executions.
Mahlagha Jaberi, 33, posted a video to Instagram on Sunday of her wearing the dress, “dedicated to the people of Iran” with the hashtag #StopExecutionsInIran.
She was first seen in designer Jila Saber’s dress on the red carpet ‘The Old Oak’ at the 76th annual Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals on May 26.
Jaberi’s video and photos in Cannes went viral, raising awareness of the regime’s recent hangings and sparking fire among some political commentators.
Journalist Yashar Ali wrote on Twitter to his 708,000 followers: “While innocent Iranians are being executed, @MahlaghaJaberi thought it would be a good idea to wear a dress with a noose sewn into it [sic] in it, then film a seductive video featuring a song that has become an anthem for protesters. Downright scandalous.’
Mahlagha Jaberi attends the ‘The Old Oak’ red carpet during the 76th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 26, 2023 in Cannes, France
Jaberi is photographed in Cannes on May 26 in the controversial dress with tie design
After some backlash, Jaberi responded in another after on Instagram.
She wrote: ‘We wanted to make a fashion statement to observe the glamor of Cannes, but more importantly, to bring media attention to the wrongful executions of Iranian people.
“Unfortunately, political expressions are not allowed at the film festival and security prevented me from showing the back of my dress, but the meaning of ‘noose’ was well understood.”
The back of the dress also had “stop executions” written on the bottom.
Comments varying in response. The top comment at the time of writing read, “All love and respect to you and the oppressed Iranian people. I wish you freedom and democracy.’
Underneath, another read: “I understand what you meant, but this is very bad taste. A tie? That way you don’t show solidarity with people who have been hanged. Think of black Americans.’
Jaberi’s post had nearly 100,000 likes in 16 hours.
Human Rights Watch, which investigates abuses worldwide, noted on May 12 an “alarming spate of executions” since the beginning of the month.
They noted that authorities had executed “at least 60 people” since the end of April, “most executed after unfair trials or on charges, such as drug offenses and two executions for “blasphemy”, which under international law should never lead to the death penalty. ‘
Tara Sepheri Far, senior Iran researcher at Human Rights Watch, said: ‘The Iranian authorities apparently use executions, an inhumane punishment, after unfair trials as a show of force against their own people, who demand fundamental change.
“The international community must unequivocally condemn this terrifying trend and put pressure on Iranian officials to stop these executions.”
The Norway-based Iranian human rights organization said on May 19 that at least 90 have been executed since May 1, making May the bloodiest month in five years.
Iran continues to face harsh sanctions from the US, EU and UN human rights violations and its nuclear program.
Vedant Patel, the chief deputy spokesman for the US State Department, said in response to the execution of three pro-democracy protesters earlier this month: “We join the Iranian people and the international community in calling on Iran not to carry out these executions.
“The execution of these men – after what are widely regarded as mock trials – would be an affront to human rights and fundamental dignity in Iran and everywhere.
“It is clear from this episode that the Iranian regime has learned nothing from the protests that began with another death, the death of Mahsa Amini last September.
“We again urge the Iranian leadership to stop killings, stop mock trials and respect people’s human rights. We will continue to work closely with our allies and partners around the world to condemn and address these appalling human rights violations.”
The former vice president and 107 other former world leaders signed a letter on May 23 to President Biden and his colleagues in Canada and Europe to take a tougher stance on Iran and support protesters against the regime.
American journalist Yashar Ali was critical of the decision to wear the dress with a noose
Video by Joy Strotz shows Jaberi wearing Jila Saber’s dress on Instagram
Jaberi appears to try on Jila Saber’s dress at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on May 26
Protests have been underway inside and outside Iran since the 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, died in police custody in Tehran in September 2022 after being arrested for allegedly violating strict hijab rules.
She fell into a coma after being arrested in Tehran and died in hospital on September 16, 2022.
Islamic Republic officials told media that Amini suffered a heart attack while being held by the “morals police,” denying reports that she had been beaten.
Her detention and death have inspired a huge protest movement, with demonstrations taking place in Iran and worldwide against the regime.
Iranian rights activists have urged women to publicly remove their veils, risking arrest for violating Islamic dress codes.
In the year to March 2014 – the latest with available data – patrols almost stopped three million women for not wearing their hijab in accordance with the regulations.
Amnesty International reported in March that cchildren as young as 12 have since been victims of rape, electrocution and flogging for their involvement in nationwide protests against the Iranian regime.
A gruesome report revealed that “Iran’s intelligence and security forces have committed horrific torture, including beatings, floggings, electric shocks, rape and other sexual violence against protesters of children as young as 12 years old to quell their involvement in nationwide protests.”
Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty International’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, said Iran’s violence against children exposes a deliberate strategy to destroy the vibrant spirit of the country’s youth and prevent them from enjoying freedom and human rights to demand’.
Jaberi shines on the red carpet of the Cannes festival, in the bow dress on May 26
Photographers are pictured behind 33-year-old Jaberi at the Palais des Festivals on May 26
Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that Iranian authorities executed 565 people last year, including 5 who were under the age of 18 when they allegedly committed the crime.
Between January 1 and May 5, 2023, Iran executed at least 192 people, including 8 women, the majority of them for drug offenses and murder.
Iran is currently facing fresh clashes with the Taliban, who rule Afghanistan, with whom they clashed at the border on May 27 over water rights, leaving at least three dead.