An Iranian journalist who started an online hijab campaign, encouraging women to come out in the open without their headscarves, has been awarded a human rights award in Geneva.
According to the Guardian, Masih Alinejad, 38, launched Stealthy Freedoms of Iranian Women last year, attracting more than half a million likes on Facebook in a matter of weeks. Thousands of women took off their veils in public and sent in their photos to be published.
Alinejad was presented with the women's rights award at for "giving a voice to the voiceless and stirring the conscience of humanity to support the struggle of Iranian women for basic human rights, freedom and equality" by the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy - a group of 20 non-governmental organizations.
The Iranian activist and journalist expressed her delight at having received the award, and added that she hoped it would raise awareness about Iranian women demanding basic rights, the report added.
