Explained: why are women chopping their hair and burning hijabs in Iran

Mahsa Amini's Death: The death of a 21-year-old girl Mahsa Amini allegedly at the hands of Iran’s 'Morality Police' has led to uproar with several women posting videos of chopping their hair.

Amini, who was of Kurdish descent, was arrested after 'Morality Police', which is responsible for enforcing the Islamic republic’s strict dress code for women, found fault in her hijab. As per a Reuters report, she died on September 16 after she went into a coma.

Local Persian language media reported that Amini was rushed to hospital in a coma a few hours after her arrest. It is not yet clear what happened between her arrival at the police station and her departure for hospital. Some reports said she suffered a blow to her head, but the government has denied such claims.

Her death has triggered a string of symbolic and street protests. Many videos from Iran show women removing their hijabs and burning them. Many women shared videos of removing their hijabs and cutting their hair.

Iranian women remove hijabs as a mark of protest | VIDEO

Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad tweeted a video and said, "Iranian women show their anger by cutting their hair and burning their hijab to protest against the killing of #Mahsa_Amini by hijab police. From the age of 7 if we don't cover our hair we won't be able to go to school or get a job. We are fed up with this gender apartheid regime."

In a separate tweet, Masih said "This is the real Iran, Security forces in Iran's Saqqez opened fire at peaceful protesters following the burial of #Mahsa_Amini. Several protesters have been injured. First Hijab police killed a 22 Yr old girl and now using guns and tear gas against grieving people."

Iran’s Fars news reported late Sunday that police fired tear gas to disperse the protesters and arrested many protesters who had gathered at Azadi Square in Sanandaj, the capital of Iran’s Kurdish province.

Amini, who was a Kurdish, was buried on Saturday in her home city Saqez.