Shay, a 29-year-old Iranian woman who has lived in Greece for over a decade, shared a deeply moving account of life under Iran’s theocratic regime—contrasting it sharply with her new reality in Athens. Speaking on Mega TV’s Live News, she opened the doors of her nail salon in Alimos, one of two businesses she runs—with another in Paleo Faliro—to reveal not just her professional success, but the profound personal freedoms she now enjoys.
A life defined by restrictions
Shay demonstrated how women in Iran are required to dress: long coats falling below the knee, no visible ankles, and headscarves worn in a strictly prescribed manner. Tattoos, she explained, carry the threat of imprisonment. ‘This is how we must go out in Iran,’ she said, gesturing to her attire. ‘Tattoos mean jail. And the hijab? It must be worn exactly like this.’
She recalled how daily life changed dramatically after the 1979 Islamic Revolution—first came bans on wearing the veil in certain contexts, then restrictions on park visits, cafés, and even cycling or swimming. ‘They banned dogs because they consider them unclean—and they invalidate prayer,’ she said, her voice heavy with emotion. Upon arriving in Greece, Shay adopted two dogs, Rex and Sofi—a symbolic act of reclaiming autonomy that remains unthinkable back home.
From Tehran to Alimos: Building a new life
In Greece, Shay works up to 16 hours a day, determined to prove what an Iranian woman can achieve. Her salons have become informal gathering spaces for other Iranian women—many of whom seek services forbidden in their homeland, from beauty treatments to simple social freedom.
Her mother, Elena, once ran a hairdressing salon in Iran—until authorities shut it down. She had also competed in table tennis tournaments, only to have that too prohibited under the new regime. For Shay and her family, ordinary activities—like meeting friends at a café or riding a bike—are not just habits, but hard-won luxuries.
A personal loss, a national wound
Shay held up a photograph of her 22-year-old cousin, killed during protests in Iran. ‘They found him with three bullets,’ she said quietly. ‘His mother wasn’t allowed to bury him—because she’s a woman.’
At home, Shay keeps many old photographs—black-and-white images from the Pahlavi era, displayed proudly. ‘In every Iranian home, you’ll find photos from the Pahlavi time,’ she noted—a quiet testament to collective memory and longing for a different past.