Iranian mannequin’s noose costume executions protest at Cannes Film Festival criticised as ‘disgraceful’

An Iranian-born mannequin has left the web divided after sporting a costume that resembled a noose.

Mahlagha Jaberi, 33, mentioned she wore the costume to the 76th Cannes Film Festival to “make a statement” and to attract consciousness to the executions taking place in Iran.

She additionally shared a video and film of it on Instagram.

The video concerned totally different close-up pictures of the mannequin within the costume with textual content which mentioned: “Stop executions.”

In one other publish, the mannequin mentioned she wished to “bring media attention” to the scenario in Iran.

She wrote: “We wanted to make a fashion statement to observe the glamour of Cannes, but more importantly, to bring media attention to the wrongful executions of Iranian people.

“Unfortunately, political statements will not be allowed on the movie pageant and the safety stopped me from displaying the again of my costume, however the ‘noose’ which means was properly understood.”

There have been months of continuing protests since September last year, triggered by the killing of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was detained by Iran’s morality police.

However, the post and video by the model attracted criticism on social media.

Journalist Yashar Ali said the model’s video was “completely disgraceful.”

He said: “As harmless Iranians are being executed, @MahlaghaJaberi thought it might be a good suggestion to put on a costume that has a noose sown into it after which movie a seductive video utilizing a tune that has turn out to be an anthem for protesters.

“Absolutely disgraceful all around.

“And then to finish the video with “stop executions” and no different context or data makes it unhelpful!”

Others, however, were quick to defend Jaberi.

One social media user wrote: “Why not respect her effort? Doesn’t intent matter?”

While another said: “I take a look at this as her approach of protesting and her approach of supporting protesters. I do not assume she did something malicious in any respect.”

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Although Iran mentioned it pardoned thousands of people arrested in relation to protests, it also appears to be carrying out a crackdown in 2023 so far.

Authorities in the country have executed at least 60 people since late April, according to Human Rights Watch.

Earlier this month, Iran executed two men for blasphemy.

The country’s authorities accused the men of being involved in a channel on messaging app Telegram – which they claimed insulted Islam and promoted atheism.

The men were also accused of burning the Koran or sharing an image of the act of burning Islam’s holy book on the Telegram channel.

Alireza Akbari, a British-Iranian national, was also executed earlier this year after being accused of spying for the UK.

At the time, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was “appalled” by the execution.

He added: “This was a callous and cowardly act, carried out by a barbaric regime with no respect for the human rights of their very own individuals.

“My thoughts are with Alireza’s friends and family.”