Teenage girls have been arrested by Iran’s morality police for dancing without headscarves to Selena Gomez’s song on Tiktok to celebrate International Women’s Day
- Short Clip Shows Teens Dressed in Western Attire Moving to ‘Calm Down’
- Iran maintains strict rules regarding dancing in public, especially for women
Five teenage girls have been arrested in Iran after dancing to a Selena Gomez song without a headscarf.
The Islamic Republic maintains strict laws regarding dancing and other forms of public entertainment, especially for women.
A short video shows the Western-clad teens moving to ‘Calm Down’, a remix of the Afrobeats by Nigerian singer Rema and pop star Gomez.
The clip was filmed in Ekbatan Town in western Tehran to coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8, and has been described as an act of defiance against the Iranian regime.
Gomez shared the video and news of their detention on her Instagram page.
A short video shows the teens dressed in Western clothes moving to “Calm Down,” a remix of Nigerian singer Rema and pop star Gomez’s Afrobeats (pictured)
Five teenage girls have been arrested in Iran after dancing to a Selena Gomez song without a headscarf
Gomez shared the video and news of their detention on her Instagram page
She wrote: “To these young women and all women in Iran who continue to be courageous to demand fundamental changes, please know that your strength is inspiring.”
It comes after journalist and filmmaker Maziar Bahari wrote online: ‘This is a common scene in most cities around the world. But in Iran it is an act of defiance.’
After the clip went viral, the Shahrak-e Ekbatan Twitter account reported that the girls’ dance instructor, nicknamed Mitra, had been questioned.
The account, which covers local news, also reported that the girls had been given a “warning” about the video.
The Iranian press has since reported that the girls were detained after the stunt.
The country has seen massive protests over the past six months since the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd who was arrested for allegedly violating strict dress codes for women.
The ensuing violence claimed the lives of hundreds of people, including dozens of security personnel, and led to thousands more being arrested.