UPDATE 1.30.18 Uncomfirmed rumors she may have been released.
UPDATE 1.24.18 Woman in photo may be incarcerated.
Girl who protested compulsory hijab in #Iran identified as 31-yr-old #VidaMovahed mother of 19-month-old baby arrested after taking off #hijab in public.
Amnesty International calls for her release: https://t.co/SJTcEnAhCm
#where_is_she #تظاهرات_سراسری #ویدا_موحد #قیام_بهمن pic.twitter.com/kf97tHmf3S— Armin Navabi (@ArminNavabi) January 25, 2018
Update: Attempts to discredit this photo (by Buzzfeed) are addressed by Andy Ngo on Twitter.
Respect to @rose_catb for writing this report but I think the tweet is misleading & delegitimizes actions of individuals involved (who are facing boot of the security apparatus). This photo was taken last Wednesday. The #IranProtests “started” on Thursday. It is not old. https://t.co/cyYinXSmAr
— Andy C. Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) January 3, 2018
BBC story on woman dubbed “Rosa Parks of Iran” for her defiance in flouting mandatory hijab hours before #IranProtests. In my opinion, this story was more even-handed & avoided partisan focus of Buzzfeed piece. Also, thank you for embedding my tweet in it. https://t.co/o7K8qjfgZo
— Andy C. Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) January 4, 2018
While 100 percent verifiable news coming out of Iran is scarce, social media began sharing this photo on December 30, 2017, of a young woman removing her mandatory hijab and waving it as a flag. Some folks report she was soon arrested, although I doubt that is verifiable.
Next we saw this graphic, which many are using as a profile picture in support of women in Iran.
In addition, these personal photos were shared revealing the importance of this symbol.
My mom, before and after the 1979 Iranian Islamic Revolution pic.twitter.com/LxjE5Urnku
— Armin Navabi (@ArminNavabi) April 18, 2017
This is my mum & her friends in Iran before the Islamic revolution. All were professional, independent & free women. pic.twitter.com/4l69RnOmuZ
— Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) December 30, 2017
To understand the cultural meaning further:
The struggle against Iran’s tyrannical regime today is built on a proud legacy of dissent. On Women’s Int. Day in 1979 shortly after the Islamic Revolution, huge crowds of women assembled for their own #WomensMarch to protest compulsory hijab. #Iranprotests pic.twitter.com/3V2EFm9yIz
— Andy C. Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) December 30, 2017
The Iranian government has shut down access to social media platforms and also to the Telegram App, so information continues to be scarce. On Twitter, you can search #IranProtests to gain some trusted information, as well as following the three Twitter accounts I have quoted above. All three are informative and reliable. Also, a YouTube channel called Freedom Messenger sends out short clips every few hours but without translation.