#MyStealthyFreedom was launched by which Iranian journalist?

#MyStealthyFreedom was launched by Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad.

Alinejad began the My Stealthy Freedom movement in 2014 as a Facebook page inviting women in Iran to share photographs of themselves without the compulsory hijab. The campaign turned private acts of defiance into a visible online conversation about freedom of choice, women’s rights, and Iran’s dress laws.

The hashtag became widely used on Facebook and Twitter, helping the campaign reach audiences beyond Iran. Participants often submitted images from ordinary settings such as streets, parks, markets, and beaches. Alinejad emphasized that many contributors were ordinary women expressing themselves, rather than established political activists.

The movement’s name describes the tension at its heart: removing the headscarf could be a personal choice, but public unveiling in Iran could carry legal and personal risks. Alinejad later launched related initiatives, including #MyForbiddenSong and White Wednesdays. The campaign is sometimes confused with opposition to the hijab itself; Alinejad has said her position is that wearing it should be a matter of personal choice.