Randa Darwish



Dozens of videos are being shared by Iranian women on social media dancing in support with a teenag girl who was arrested for posting dancing videos on Instagram.



Maedeh Hojabri is a 19-year-old Iranian teenager who had tens of thousands of followers on her Instagram account. She posts videos of dancing at home without her hijab.

After reports emerged on the arrest of Hojabri, state TV broadcast a video in which she acknowledged breaking moral norms. Hojabri said it was not her intention as she was trying to gain more followers. However, this admission may have been forced under pressure.

Authorities in Iran have strict rules that control women’s clothing and dancing, which puts anyone trying to violate the rule of law iin danger of strict punishment.

According to a local Iranian news website, Shabooneh, Iranian authorities had arrested four Iranian individuals, including Hojabri. Meanwhile, the police said they plan to shutdown accounts similar to Hojabri’s one. They are considering blocking Instagram alongside other social media platforms; Facebook, Twitter and Telegram.

On social media, Hojabri’s arrest received many supporters who went to share videos for them while dancing, using hashtags like #FreeMaedeh, #MaedehHojabri or #DancingIsNotACrime.

Ashraf Sherjan posted several videos for Iranian women while dancing wondering how dancing is considered a crime in Iran.

Another video for a woman dancing at a park in Tehran.

Shappi Khorsandi criticized the Iranian government's cruelty in banning arts and culture.

Other social media activists went to remind the world of the the double standard of the Iranian government, that leaves an Iranian man who is accused of rape and seeking to arrest a young teenager for dancing, even though both are violating rules!

With mostly all voices were in support with Hojabri, it also brought back to light discussions on the Iranian authorities oppressing womens dress codes and behaviour in public, under the cover of religion or Islamic Sharia law.



A key focus of the growing dissatisfaction among Iranians in the last few years has been over the mandatory hijab law or 'morality police.' Meanwhile, the Iranian current President, Hassan Rouhani has earlier expressed his opposition to the law. His constitutional powers are limited, stopping him from making any reform.