Female hospitality leaders show solidarity with Iranian women
Female hospitality leaders including Clare Smyth, Andi Oliver, Sally Abé, Olia Hercules, and Kate Nicholls have shown solidarity with the women's movement taking place in Iran following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini.
In a video organised by the Persian Hospitality Network, Michelin-starred chefs, restaurateurs, and influencers including Noda Marvani, Leyli Homayoonfar, Mandana Moghaddam, Mersedeh Prewer, and Natalie Jahangiry, have sought to raise awareness of the anti-government protests taking place in Iran.
Many of the protests have been led by women following the death of Amini, a 22-year-old woman detained by the ‘morality police' for allegedly wearing ‘improper' hijab.
The not-for-profit organisation has encouraged people to share the video across social media and ‘be the voice' of Iranian women, which the authorities have sought to silence by restricting internet access across the country.
The video was inspired by a similar social media post recently shared by actor Nazanin Boniadi, which saw famous actors show their support by echoing the slogan ‘woman, life, freedom', which has been adopted by women within Iran.
Women in Iran have been cutting their hair, burning their hijabs, and protesting across the country, with at least 201 people killed in the protests according to Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights.
In response, women across the world have been cutting their hair in solidarity and thousands of people took part in protests in London's Trafalgar Square earlier this month. The UK has imposed sanctions on Iran's morality police in response to its violent crackdown on protesters.
The Persian Hospitality Network was launched in 2021 by Piers Zangana, director of PR and communications business Susa Comms, to celebrate and raise awareness of Persian chefs, cooks, food writers, hoteliers, suppliers, restaurants, and brands in the UK.
Zangana said: "What is happening in Iran is heartbreaking and I'm so grateful for so many of the incredible women working in the food and hospitality sector who have come out and shown their support for the people of Iran.
"For more than 43 years, the regime has sought to oppress and silence women and men in Iran.
"What is happening has never been seen before. Women are leading what has become a nationwide and global protest against the regime in Iran. The bravery and courage being shown is an inspiration to us all."
With close to 100,000 Persian people living across the UK, the country is home to the third largest Persian population in the world outside of Iran.
Photo: Alex Yeung / Shutterstock
