A video of an Iranian girl shuffle dancing publicly in the streets of Iran has gone viral this week. The footage shows the young woman setting up her iphone camera in what looks to be a public park and recording a two minute shuffle dance routine whilst passers by walk on without so much as turning their heads.
In Iran dancing in public is prohibited under law for women, gathering praise from many for the bravery of the young girl. Her headscarf also comes off part way through the routine, which is a crime against mandatory veiling laws in the country. Although evidently a risky move, the video has received much praise from viewers both inside and outside of Iran.
A lot can also be said about the reaction of the passers by, who are not only clearly unoffended by the activity but their complete disengagement also suggests that they view it as an entirely ordinary and acceptable scene.This issue is raised by some in the comments section of the video on facebook, who see this as an indication of the disparity between the people and the government on some laws in Iran today.
The video was uploaded on the facebook page My Stealthy Freedom (آزادی های یواشکی زنان در ایران), an online social movement launched in 2014 by Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad. As a counter-reaction to laws in Iran which require compulsory head covering by women, the movement provides a platform where women inside Iran can share photos and videos of themselves unveiled in public in protest of their right to choice.
