France, Dec. 14 -- "When I look at old photos of myself wearing the hijab, I find it quite strange," she told RFI, speaking on condition of anonymity. "I no longer recognise myself."

Today, she leads most of her daily life without a headscarf. While she walks in the street or visits cafes bareheaded, she still covers up to visit government offices,where women are denied entry unless they comply with Iran's religious dress code.

She is not alone. A growing number of women are daring to defy the rules since Amini's death in police custody provokedprotests across Iran and the wider world.

"At first, it was mainly young people," the woman said. "Now it's more and more women, not all young." Uneasy freedoms

Wearing a hijab remains the law ...