'So you have honour now?': Iranian woman removes cleric's turban to use as hijab - video goes viral

A woman at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport removed a cleric's turban to cover her own head after being confronted about not wearing a hijab. The incident, captured on video and widely circulated online, happened recently.

The woman took the cleric's turban and put it on her own head. “So you have honour now?” she asked him. The video also shows her asking, “What did you do to my husband?”

Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad shared the video on social media with the caption, "A brave woman at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport confronted a cleric harassing her for not wearing a hijab. In a bold act of defiance, she removed his turban and wore it like a scarf, turning oppression into resistance."

"For years, clerics have claimed their turbans and robes are sacred and untouchable, but this woman’s act of protest shattered that myth. Iranian women are exhausted and enraged by gender apartheid," she added.


For decades, Iranian rulers have prioritised strict dress codes for women and girls, treating them as a national security matter. These rules have caused protests in the past.

The hijab’s role in Iran is complex. It represents both religious identity and political power. Leaders like the late President Ebrahim Raisi and his successor, President Masoud Pezeshkian have enforced hijab rules. Pezeshkian promised to stop the morality police from harassing women about hijab violations. However, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has final say and insists that not wearing a hijab is forbidden.

The Iranian government continues to monitor women’s clothing, using technology and focusing on businesses and public gatherings where women appear without hijabs, even though enforcement has relaxed slightly.

Public anger over these restrictions has grown for years. The death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022 after being detained for an alleged hijab violation sparked widespread protests. Thousands who challenged the rules under Khamenei’s leadership faced serious repercussions.