The forecourt of the iconic Louvre in Paris became the stage for a powerful protest by FEMEN, an international women’s rights movement. The occasion marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, with activists raising their voices for freedom, equality, and justice.
The protest involved 100 topless women of diverse ages and backgrounds, with feminist slogans such as “Stop War on Women” and “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi” written across their bodies in French, English, and Kurdish. The protest called for an end to violence against women worldwide.
On their official Instagram page, FEMEN described the protest as “an uncompromising statement of resistance” and a “living symbol of global feminist defiance against patriarchal violence, the oppression of women, and the global surge in authoritarianism.”
The slogan "Jin Jiyan Azadî," which translates to "Women, Life, Freedom" in Kurdish, has become a symbol of resistance and a rallying cry for women's rights, particularly in the context of the Kurdish feminist movement. In Paris, the FEMEN group, known for their activism and…
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FEMEN emphasised the significance of the location, stating, “In this act of political rebellion, #FEMEN transforms the Louvre’s forecourt, a monument to elitist cultural power into a space of revolutionary resistance. We stand in solidarity with oppressed and violated girls and women in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Kurdistan, Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Sudan, Libya… too many places!!”
A protest steeped in symbolism
Led by singer Lio, the activists sang "L’Hymne des Femmes" while wearing black veils, symbolising mourning and the diminsihing women’s rights. Later, they performed "The Song of Equality" in Farsi, led by Victoria Gugenheim, to honor Iranian women fighting for freedom in the #WomanLifeFreedom revolution.
Each activist removed her veil during the protest as a symbolic liberation act. “Our bodies — marked with slogans and messages of resistance — are our manifesto of defiance. Removing the veil is not merely symbolic; it is a conscious act of reclaiming — a declaration to the world that we refuse to be silenced, we will not be erased, and we will never stop fighting for our freedom and that of our sisters,” stated FEMEN on Instagram.
What is FEMEN?
FEMEN is a global feminist movement known for its bold, topless protests. According to their website, the group’s mission is “complete victory over patriarchy.” FEMEN activists use their bodies as a visual symbol of defiance, mentioning that their “naked attacks are a raw nerve of the historic woman-system conflict.”
Through their powerful protests, FEMEN continues to draw attention to the oppression of women worldwide, demanding freedom, equality, and justice for all.