Iranian-American model Mahlagha Jaberi is one of the well-known fashion personalities of Iranian descent. She wore a noose-styled dress at the Cannes Film Festival in protest against executions in Iran.
Yahoo news – Amid the sea of glamorous gowns at the premiere of Ken Loach’s The Old Oak during the 76th annual Cannes Film Festival last week, one stood out from the pack. Iranian model Mahlagha Jaberi wore a Jila Atelier design that featured a halter-style neckline shaped into a golden noose. It was an intentional political statement that instantly went viral. “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,” wrote Jaberi on Instagram.
The death penalty is currently being used by Iranian officials as a means to maintain power and instill fear in anti-regime protestors. According to Human Rights Watch, Iranian authorities have executed at least 60 people since late April, many of them after unfair trials and for charges such as drug offenses or “blasphemy.” CNN also reports that Iran executed at least 582 people last year—a 75% increase from 2021.
For Iranian designer Jila Saber, who designed Jaberi’s impactful Cannes dress, the red carpet was an opportunity to make people aware of what’s occurring in her native country. “Many innocent young people have been executed during the last six months, and there are still many in danger,” Saber tells Vogue. “As an artist, I believe that we need to stand against this and open up the eyes of the world.”
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