I stand with you: Priyanka Chopra takes stand on Iran's anti-Hijab spring, silent on India

death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman, has sparked worldwide outrage. People from all over world have expressed shock at "morality police's brutal treatment" of woman who was arrested for not donning a hijab in accordance with rules. From political leers to popular celebrities, many have been coming out in support of women who have been protesting on streets of Iran, seeking justice for Amini. However, very same celebrities have declined to take a stand on a similar matter in India where a debate is raging.

Priyanka Chopra asks world to raise voice for Mahsa Amini, silent on India's Hijab row

Citel actor heed to her Instagram and stated how women in Iran and or parts of world are raising ir voices for Amini.

"Women in Iran and around world are standing up and raising ir voices, publicly cutting ir hair and many or forms of protest for Mahsa Amini, whose young life was taken away so brutally by Iranian Morality Police for wearing her hijab ‘improperly’. voices that speak after ages of forced silence, will rightfully burst like a volcano! And y will not and MUST not be stemmed," Priyanka wrote.

Giving a shoutout to women who have been showing immense 'courage' to 'challenge patriarchal establishment', knowing that y are risking ir lives, Priyanka went on to state, "It is not easy to risk your life, literally, to challenge patriarchal establishment and fight for your rights. But, you are courageous women doing this every day regardless of cost to yourselves."

Bajirao Mastani actor furr asked everyone to come out in support of women and join m with ir collective voices.

"To ensure that this movement will have a lasting effect, we must hear ir call, understand issues and n join in with our collective voices. We must also get everyone who can influence ors to join as well. Numbers matter. d your voice to this critical movement. Stay informed and be vocal, so se voices can no longer be forced to stay silent. I stand with you. Jin, jiyan , azai… Women, life, freedom," she concluded (sic).

Indian film stars silent on Hijab row in India

It is notable that Hijab revolution in Iran has come after months-worth of a diametrically opposite protest in India, over a circular of Karnataka government barring students from wearing religious garb in school classrooms. cause of a group of Muslim girl students in Udupi to wear hescarves in classrooms was taken up by various groups, which led to a marathon hearing in Karnataka High Court, even as classroom education in a number of institutions was brought to a standstill. High Court, in its verdict, ruled that Hijab doesn't constitute an essential religious practice, and that even if it was it'd only receive constitutional protection if it did not conflict with constitutional values such as equality and dignity.  

court observed that government imposing a dress code is a reasonable restriction and does not offend constitutionally protected rights as it is ‘religion-neutral’, ‘universally applicable’ to all students, and, in fact, promotes principles of secularism. It observed that at qualified public spaces such as schools, freedom may be curtailed to maintain discipline and decorum. This verdict was challenged in Supreme Court over which anor marathon hearing was held where government side argued role of groups such as PFI (now banned) in leing protest and also clarified that circular only applied in classrooms and that people were free to wear Hijabs even in institute premises. While Apex Court has reserved its order, matter has been politicised, and has witnessed conspicuous absence of celebrity influencers, at very least, in upholding school uniforms in India, at cost of pro-Hijab students not entering classrooms.

Hijab cause in India h been championed by extremists such as Al Qaeda chief Ayman Al Zawahiri (since assassinated). Meanwhile, Mumbai was recently witness to a lone protest by Iran actor Mandana Karimi who stood with a placard in support of women in Iran who are opposing Hijab's imposition. While she received some support from locals re, she has since me her social media account private, meaning a 17-minute video she'd posted with her stand is unavailable for larger public to see. As per media reports, she'd come under pressure and h also received no support from her industry peers who cited myri reasons to not take up cause.    

22-year-old Iranian woman allegedly beaten to death in police custody

On September 13, Kurdish-Iranian woman Amini was arrested by "morality police" in Iran and was allegedly so severely beaten in police van that she reportedly went into a coma. As per a report by United Nations, Amini collapsed at detention centre after spending three days in custody, and eventually passed away after being transferred to a hospital.  report also mentioned that she was 'severely beaten' by Iranian authorities during her detention. 

Three days later, Amini died from her multiple horrific injuries, which ignited protests and condemnation from Iranian women against her death and government allegedly responsible for it. In midst of nationwide demonstrations, many Iranian women have taken to cutting ir hair as a political statement against oppression and requirement that all women wear hijab, as well as an act of defiance in memory of Amini, who was detained for allegedly breaking Islamic Republic's modesty laws.