The veil in Iran has been an enduring symbol of patriarchal norms – but its use has changed depending on who is in power

In much of the media outside Iran, female protesters not wearing the headscarf have been highlighted as symbols of defiance. AP Photo/Middle East Images, File

In images of the uprising that followed the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini on Sept. 16, 2022, perhaps the most iconic ones, aside from that of Amini herself, are those of unveiled Iranian women photographed from behind, facing police barricades or raising a fist at the scene of mass protests.

The wide use of images of Iranian female protesters, without the headscarf, in the Western media highlights how the veil can often be seen as the single most important measure of women’s rights and well-being.