First she was harassed by the morality police for not wearing her hijab properly

or that’s the news down the international grapevine, and they ripped her clothes

What would you do?  It seems she decided to strip off down to her underwear

walk outside and sit among men and women mostly other students by the look

in her bras and underpants, arms folded in defiance or was that nonchalance

She’s become a meme and we retweet because we can and we feel virtuous



Of course, we can’t do a lot more than frown and rage at the rules that ensure

she must be covered up because we are Westerners with the right to run naked

Well, not to ruin a cricket match, but we could bathe openly on a beach or

strut our stuff unimpeded, half naked if you will without being arrested

or considered mental (well not legally, but some folk might disapprove)

but they can’t get us locked up in psychiatric care …



Well, not this year at least, but it’s only thirty or so years ago we did just that

put people who didn’t fit into strait jackets, locked them up, abused them

and refused to listen to them.  Mr Luxon wanted all the glory with

a big apology but not so much a big wad of money and let’s be careful here

journalists who like to ask sticky questions might get banned from Parliament

I mean we have to keep things seemly, although we don’t believe in censorship





So we’re free as women to dress how we choose, and rock our stuff

Ready to rebuff any unwanted attention, because we have rights but

hang on … we might be legally stalked by an ex boyfriend, raped by

a high-flying sportsman, whose career matters more than us or

murdered perhaps but at least we have our rights ...




To be furious that some men in some countries demand women cover up

We know about men who want to protect us, those caring, domineering,

high profile, good men  (could even be an eye surgeon doing pro bono work)

but I digress, I’m here on Courage Day to honour Ahoo Daryaei,......