Belgian Foreign Minister Lahbib cuts lock of hair in solidarity with protesting Iranian women

IRAN — The protests in Iran continued for their fourth week as demonstrators continue to reject the repressive rule of the current regime in Tehran. More than 300 activists, many of them women, have been arrested so far.

According to the reports of human rights organizations in Iran, over 300 political and civil activists and students were arrested during the uprising that has swept across the country. More than 100 students from several universities were arrested.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged on Thursday to hold accountable those who support or are directly involved in depriving Iranians of their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

In Brussels, during a session of the House of Representatives, Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib cut a lock of her hair in support of the Iranian women protesting for their rights. Lahbib denounced the intolerable suppression of demonstrations by the Iranian authorities.

Live in the Belgian parliament today! Minister Hadja Lahbib, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belgium cutting off a lock of her hair in support of #MahsaAmini and the brave protesters in Iran. 

Strong statement of solidarity by Minister @hadjalahbib!

Women. Life. Freedom! ✌️ pic.twitter.com/Dr9yWK7KZI

— Darya Safai MP (@SafaiDarya) October 6, 2022

She confirmed before the House that the repression may have killed more than 150 people so far, and resulted in the wounding and arrest of hundreds of others.

According to Lahbib, the countries of the European Union jointly call for the imposition of sanctions on the heads of the security services who ordered this crackdown.