Following the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, millions of people in Iran mourned, with over 3 million attending his funeral. Meanwhile, some individuals celebrated Raisi’s death. Certain women marked the occasion by posting nude pictures on social media. Many people referred to Raisi as ‘the butcher of Iran’ and expressed a sense of liberation after his passing.
Thousands of women donned burqas to mourn President Ebrahim Raisi’s death. Meanwhile, some Iranian women and men celebrated by posting nude pictures following the news. Political scientist and researcher Hanih Ziaie commented that being naked to celebrate Raisi’s death is a way of expressing the joy of being free from ‘suffocation.’ Ziaie explained that they feel suffocated, so they want to remove everything, and this act is likely an expression of that feeling of suffocation.
Iran International reported that the idea of celebrating Raisi’s death by going naked began with a tweet from an influencer on X. She tweeted that she would share a nude photo if Raisi died. Whether she made this statement as a joke, a dare, or a political expression is unclear. However, following her tweet, some Iranians joined the campaign and posted nude pictures.
Siyavash Rokni, who monitors social media movements, told Iran International that in Iran, men and women are forced to cover their bodies, with imprisonment for those who refuse. He explained that using the body to counter this oppression aligns with rejecting such oppression.
She noted that being naked has always been a form of protest—hippie protests, an anti-war movement in the 1960s and 70s, also utilized nudity. In feminist movements, women have frequently used nudity to demand their rights.
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