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Heartbreaking Moment: Kurdish Woman Cuts Hair at Sister's Funeral in Protest of Iranian Regime

Published January 27, 2026, 09:15
Heartbreaking Moment: Kurdish Woman Cuts Hair at Sister's Funeral in Protest of Iranian Regime

A heartbreaking video released by Iranian journalist Maziar Alinejad shows a young Kurdish woman cutting her hair at the funeral of her 21-year-old sister, Melika Dastieab, who was killed in a protest in Iran. This act, an ancient Iranian tradition of mourning, has become a symbol of protest against the regime's oppression. Melika Dastieab, a musician and student, was killed on January 8th in Kermanshah during anti-government demonstrations. The protests began after the death of Mahsa Amini at the hands of the Morality Police and have resulted in a death toll of at least 5,937, according to the HRANA organization. The cutting of hair, known as “Ghisuboran” or “Chamar,” has been revived as a form of resistance and solidarity with the Iranian people's struggle for freedom. However, Maziar Alinejad criticized symbolic gestures from Western politicians, calling on them to take concrete measures to support the Iranian people, such as severing ties with the regime and stopping its legitimization.