Demirtaş shaves off hair in support of women's protests in Iran

Two imprisoned Kurdish politicians sharing the same cell shaved their heads in support of the women who took to the streets after the killing of Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iran's Morality Police.

Selahattin Demirtaş, former co-chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), and Selçuk Mızraklı, who was dismissed as the mayor of Diyarbakır and arrested, also a member of the party, released a message and photos through their attorney.

"We feel the sorrow of Mahsa Amini, who was murdered because strands of her hair were exposed, from the bottom of our hearts," they said.

"Resisting oppression and persecution is not only the responsibility of women. To support the struggle for equality and freedom, which women bravely lead, and to express that we stand with the people who are resisting for freedom in Iran, my cellmate Dr. Selçuk Mızraklı and I shaved off our hair.

"All systems of oppression and tyranny will eventually be destroyed in the face of the resistance of the people. Salute to those who resist. May God have mercy on Mahsa Amini, we express our condolences and patience to his family and our people; we convey our feelings of solidarity with greetings." (VK)