Iran mistakenly promotes hijab with ancient bas-relief of veiled men

[Surya Gayatri]

This poster displayed in the streets of the Iranian capital Tehran features an image of an ancient Persian sculpture alongside a message praising the merits of the Islamic veil, or hijab. The veiled figures in the bas-relief sculpture are supposed to demonstrate that Iranian women have been covering their heads for centuries. However, if you look a little closer, you can see that the veiled people aren’t actually women.

Authorities want to use the campaign to show the public that the hijab, which has been made mandatory by Iranian religious authorities, is a tradition descended from the very beginnings of the Persian state.

"Mede soldiers used to wear turbans that covered their heads and chins”

This bas-relief sculpture is located on a stairway in the oriental wing of the palace of Persepolis. It pays homage to Emperor Darius and represents the different ethnicities that made up the Persian Empire. This particular panel shows Mede soldiers [Editor’s note: This ancient people lived in Media, which was located in what is now northwestern Iran and southeastern Turkey], who used to wear turbans that covered their heads and chins.

For the most part, only men are depicted in the artwork that adorns palaces and official buildings constructed during the Achaemenid Empire. But there are thousands of sculptures from this same era that show women who are essentially naked…

Moreover, in Iran’s national museum, there are thousands of sculptures that show men and women engaging in sexual relations. Obviously, these are not only display, but about ten years ago, near the end of president Khatami’s mandate, several journalists had the opportunity to see them.


http://observers.france24.com/content/20150413-iran-hijab-sculptures-veil-men

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Bwaahaaaa! So much for the historical precedent for an oppressive, misogynist policy!