Actress Priyanka Chopra has spoken out in favor of Iranian women who have been protesting Mahsa Amini's killing amid the continuing unrest in that country. On September 13, Mahsa Amini was detained as she and her family were leaving a Tehran metro station with her brother. She was detained for allegedly violating Iran's strict laws requiring women to dress modestly and wear hijabs. Mahsa spent three days in a coma before passing away "of natural causes," as the authorities asserted, but campaigners believe she was killed by a lethal blow to the head.
Following the tragedy, tens of thousands of Iranians have demonstrated against Mahsa Amini's passing in the previous two weeks. Women from all around the world have shaved or chopped their hair in public or while being videotaped to show support for the plight of Iranian women at rallies and protests.
Priyanka Chopra has shown her support on social media, just like many other women have.
She posted on Instagram and said, "Women in Iran and around the world are standing up and raising their voices, publicly cutting their hair and many other forms of protest for Mahsa Amini, whose young life was taken away so brutally by the Iranian Morality Police for wearing her hijab 'improperly'. The voices that speak after ages of forced silence, will rightfully burst like a volcano! And they will not and MUST not be stemmed."
She added, "I am in awe of your courage and your purpose. It is not easy to risk your life, literally, to challenge the patriarchal establishment and fight for your rights. But, you are courageous women doing this every day regardless of the cost to yourselves."
Priyanka pleaded with those in authority to pay attention to the protesters' cries and recognise their concerns.
"To ensure that this movement will have a lasting effect, we must hear their call, understand the issues and then join in with our collective voices. We must also get everyone who can influence others to join as well. Numbers matter. Add your voice to this critical movement. Stay informed and be vocal, so these voices can no longer be forced to stay silent. I stand with you. Jin, jiyan , azaadi... Women, life, freedom," she added. Elnaaz Norouzi has supported Iranian women in addition to Priyanka.
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