Around 1,000 people gathered on the Malieveld in the centre of The Hague on Saturday to show their support for the protestors in Iran.

Many of the demonstrators were carrying Iranian flags and banners reading ‘free Iran’ and ‘stop the bloodshed in Iran’ as they marched through the city. Some chanted ‘death to the Islamic republic’ in Persian as they walked.

Iranian women and men have been protesting since the death of 22-year old Masha Amini on September 16, after she was arrested by Iran’s morality police for allegedly not adhering to the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code.

The Hague demonstration is the biggest yet in the Netherlands – there were other, smaller ones in Amsterdam and Eindhoven last month.

‘We are in the process of regaining our freedom,’ Nasrim Poursalimi told the AD. ‘We want revolution, we want the ayatollahs gone because we have been oppressed for 44 years.’

Fellow protester Fatra Keramati told the paper: ‘There is no life in Iran, it is survival,  especially for young women. But the protest movement there now is broader than ever.’

Hair

On Thursday, Dutch justice minister Dilan Yesilgöz cut off a lock of her hair live on television, to show her support for women in Iran campaigning against compulsory hijabs.

Yesilgöz was appearing on talk show Op1 when she decided to follow presenter Fidan Ekiz and fellow guest Yesim Candan in taking a stand.

During the broadcast Candan urged Dutch women to do the same thing. ‘For me, the battle is about feeling the sun on your skin but if you are doing it, then I will join in with a lock,’ the minister said, to the applause of the other guests.

Travel advice

The Netherlands has also tightened its travel advice for Iran to red, meaning all travel should be avoided.

Dutch citizens who are in Iran for any reason have also been urged to leave if they can, and to register their contact information at the embassy.