A video is going viral on social media (here, here, and here) showing women dancing around a bonfire and burning their scarves as the crowd applauds. The post is being shared with claims that Iran has lifted the legal obligation to wear the hijab, making it a matter of personal choice. It is further alleged that people across the country are taking to the streets and collectively burning hijabs to celebrate this change. Let’s verify the claim made in the post in this article.
Claim: The video shows people in Iran celebrating the end of the legal obligation to wear the hijab by collectively burning hijabs on the streets.
Fact: The video dates back to September 2022 and does not show Iranians celebrating the end of mandatory hijab laws. It was filmed in Sari, Iran, during nationwide protests that erupted after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was detained by the morality police for allegedly violating the country’s dress code. Women burned hijabs in public as a form of defiance. As of October 2025, there is no credible evidence or official announcement that Iran has lifted the legal obligation to wear the hijab. Hence, the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
A reverse image search of key frames from the viral video led us to a news report uploaded on the YouTube channel of Voice of America on 22 September 2022, featuring the same visuals. According to the report, the clip is from Sari, Iran, during protests that erupted following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa...
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