Some 40 young women staged a protest in front of the Iranian embassy on the Franklin Rooseveltlaan in Brussels yesterday. The young women undressed in solidarity with Iranian activist Ahoo Daryaei and female political prisoners in Iran.
The action, on the margin of ULB campus Solbosch (Francophone Free University of Brussels), started around 5pm. The women feel it is necessary to make themselves heard following the arrest of Daryaei, who was detained last week after she undressed in protest against the dress code for women in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Her protest took place outside the Azad University in the Iranian capital Tehran. The university confirmed the arrest and said Daryaei was suffering from a mental disorder.
Since her action the 30-year-old PhD student has been internationally praised for her boldness and daring. Today, Daryaei has reportedly been admitted to a closed centre for patients with mental disorders, the young Brussels students said.
‘Long-term struggle’
The Belgian students want to give Daryaei and all Iranian women heart and show support for their struggle. The young women support Amnesty International's demand for Daryaei's immediate release and further demand the release of all Iranian women in detention.
‘We are here to support all oppressed women and Ahoo Daryaei and demand her immediate release. (...) We must strengthen Daryaei's voice and her action should not be forgotten,’ said organiser Marie-Lou.
The students undressed, as did Daryaei herself. ‘This is a long-term struggle. Of course, we are not naive and know that these actions will not free Daryaei. For me, though, it remains important to talk about this and raise awareness,’ said another organiser.
‘We need to show solidarity’
When the invitation to the rally was circulated among fellow students, several male students reportedly said that Daryaei ‘had sought her fate herself’, says the organiser.
That touched her deeply. ‘In my view several men reacted very problematically to our invitation. Even here in Belgium, among our neighbours, some are reacting in a monstrous way. We have to show solidarity with each other, after all we all live together on the same planet.’
According to the organiser, male fellow students would have done better to take part in the action. ‘They should support us. We need them. All men were welcome to participate in the action. But mainly we are here to ensure women are represented by women.’