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Religion - peace or repression?
5 Muslim girls reveal their experiences

'My Catholic boyfriend
is welcome'

Mahsa Aminelahi contradicts all stereotypes one might have in mind about an Iranian women.

The 26-year-old journalism graduate from Teheran has travelled Europe and currently studies in England.

Although part of her family is religious, her parents have welcomed her Spanish, Catholic boyfriend with open arms.

“Iran is not as bad as it is stereotyped in the West”, Mahsa explains, “many people have got these ideas in their mind: if you kiss someone in public you will be severely punished.




" But I did it and nothing happened!”

Islam itself is not unfair towards women, she says, it’s Islamic governments that discriminate.

But as her parents are such open-minded people, she feels that by coming to Europe her lifestyle did not change significantly.

“Many Iranians lead a life with double standards. As soon as you open the door and start walking in the streets, you can feel the discrimination against women. But in my family matters change as soon as the door is closed.”

Nobody pushes Mahsa into marriage, “they will be very happy for me if we marry, but they always tell me to take my time,” she says.

In future the couple might live together in Iran or stay in Europe.

“One thing I like about living here is that I am not obliged to wear my headscarf,” Masha laughs, “when I went to Spain for the first time, I wasn’t wearing it and I could feel the wind around my ears –a very nice experience!”................. ..............
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