The dress of the death row inmate: on the red carpet of Cannes, the top Mahlagha Jaberi protests against the Iranian regime

As every year, the Croisette stirs for two weeks to the rhythm of the Cannes Film Festival. The city then likes to take a break, preferring glitter to geopolitical conflicts, feminist causes and other societal demands. His spotlight is on his high mass of the 7th art and on the stars who parade every day on the Cannes red carpet. But some do not forget the struggles that are being played out in the surrounding countries. And choosing to divert the event to denounce the inaction of governments.

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This is the case of Iranian model Mahlagha Jaberi, who walked in front of photographers on Friday, May 26, to attend the screening of the film The Old Oak, by Ken Loach. The 33-year-old climbed the steps of the Palais des Festivals in a very telling dress, evoking the regime of his country. The dress, long, black, and close to the body, offers indeed a plunging neckline in hemp rope, tied around her neck in the manner of death row inmates.

Mahlagha Jaberi. (Cannes, May 26, 2023.) Getty Images

This sinister detail is intended to recall the violence of the repressive Iranian regime, and the many protests that shake the country. This wave of protests, especially from women who are the first to be affected, began with the death of Mahsa Amini. The 22-year-old died last September after being arrested by morality police because of her "mispositioned" veil. The tragedy provoked the anger of the population, many Iranian women risking their lives by taking to the streets to burn their hijab or cut a lock of hair (symbol of the revolt).

"Woman, Life, Freedom"

On social networks, Internet users widely applauded this "gesture of courage". "Real stakes, real risk, real provocation. Quite the opposite of the false rebellion of false victims of a system that feeds them, "can we read, in reference to the speech of the winner of the palme d'or, Justine Triet, on the pension reform.

"Iranian-American model Jaberi Mahlagha: courage, selflessness, honor, real life," wrote another. By wearing this jewel, the model gave her support to the Iranian movement "Woman, Life, Freedom", a slogan sung during the demonstrations in Iran.

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