Woman Life Freedom: capturing the art of protest

Jina Mahsa Amini’s death at the hands of Iran’s Morality Police on 16 September 2022 sparked widespread protests across the country. Women took to the streets, uncovering their hair, burning headscarves and chanting ‘Woman Life Freedom’ – ‘Zan Zendegi Azadi’ in Persian and ‘Jin Jîyan Azadî’ in Kurdish – in mass demonstrations.

An explosion of creative resistance followed as art and photography shared online went viral and people around the world saw what was really going on in Iran. This short film, following the journey of our book Woman Life Freedom, captures this historic moment in artwork and first-person accounts. It is both a universal rallying call and a celebration of the women the regime has tried and failed to silence.

This is what protest looks like.

Woman Life Freedom: Voices and Art from the Women’s Protests in Iran is edited by Malu Halasa (Saqi Books, 2023).

This short film was directed and produced by Saqi Books, with thanks to Arts Council England, Truthdig, The Markaz Review, K.B Bishara, Naomi Shakespeare and audio actor Beth Em.

Featuring artwork by Shiva Khademi, Soheila Sokhanvari, Tahmineh Monzavi, Alexander Cyrus Poulikakos, Niloofar Rasooli, Pamela Karimi, Khiaban Tribune, Iranian Women of Graphic Design, Roshi Rouzbehani, Marziyeh Saffarian, Milad Ahmadi, Mana Neyestani, Tasalla, Hengameh Golestan, Mehri Rahimzadeh plus many others.

Woman Life Freedom is dedicated to the women and girls of Iran.