Zaghari-Ratcliffe can be seen cutting her hair with scissors. “For my mother, for my daughter, for the fear of solitary confinement, for the women of my country, for freedom,” the aid worker said at the end of her video.
Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested at Tehran airport in 2016 and sentenced to 10 years in prison for attempting to overthrow the Iranian government, including by encouraging online opposition to the government. She was released in March along with another Briton, officially after serving their sentences, but in fact it was the result of negotiations that saw London repay debts from the last century worth €475 million to Iran.
By cutting her hair, Zaghari-Ratcliffe is supporting protests in Iran and beyond over the death of Amini, who died after being arrested by the religious police. She would not have covered herself properly and thereby violated the dress code.
Protesters say Amini died of police brutality, but authorities deny that. Iran has been unsettled since the announcement of Amini’s death on September 16, resulting in at least 41 deaths.
