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Darya Safai (; born 7 April 1975) is an Iranian-born Belgian politician who has been a member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives for the New Flemish Alliance since 2019.
However, Ali Khamenei saw the protests as a threat to the Iranian Government and ordered Hassan Rouhani, then head of the security services and now former president of Iran, to end the protests. Safai and her husband were on their way back in a car on the fifth day when they were notified by a friend that the security forces had raided their apartment. Her husband fled into the crowd and went into hiding, while she drove to her parents. Two days later, however, Safai was arrested. She was only released from prison on bail after 24 days after posting a large bail. According to Safai, she was probably released because the Iranian Government gambled that she would lead them to her husband in hiding. After her release, she took her final exams. After a few weeks she also secretly came into contact with her hiding husband and together they decided to flee Iran as soon as possible.
On 28 June 2000, Safai and her husband landed at Brussels Airport. Safai quickly learned Dutch language and French language. Because her diploma was not recognized in Belgium, she had to redo her last two years of dentistry at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. She then founded several dental practices with her husband in Brussels and Antwerp. In 2003 she also acquired Belgian nationality.
In February 2015, Darya Safai wrote a letter to Sepp Blatter, at that time President of FIFA, about the situation of the Iranian women and what they expected from FIFA. FIFA does not comply its statutes regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran: Article 3 of FIFA's statutes:
"Discrimination of any kind against a Country, private person or group of people on account of race, skin colour, ethnic, national or social origin, gender, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, wealth, birth or any other status, sexual orientation or any other reason is strictly prohibited and punishable by suspension or expulsion."
This letter has been supported and signed by more than 200 prominent Iranian academics, human, civil and political activists, political prisoners and artists.
At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, she showed her banner during the volleyball games of the Iranian men's volleyball team. This action caused a lot of controversy. Olympic officials and security personnel threatened to eject her for holding the banner in front of the cameras. But she didn't go and displayed the sign during different games.
On 2 June 2017, Darya Safai and a fellow activist showed the 'Let Iranian Women Enter Their Stadiums' banner during the Italy-Iran FIVB Volleyball World League match in Pesaro, Italy. Italian police officers allegedly prevented them from performing the demonstration, removed Darya Safai by force from the stadium bleachers, and cut the banner into pieces, while being filmed by at least one bystander. On 4 June 2017 Italian journalist Michele Serra, on his daily column hosted by La Repubblica's front page, urged Italian authorities to issue an official apology in favor of Datya Safai. As of 5 June 2017, no official statement has been made by Italian authorities.
Safai has also campaigned against compulsory hijab laws in Iran, arguing that it represents discrimination and oppression against Iranian women. She is also critical of Western politicians who argue that wearing Islamic veils and headscarves in the West is a matter of religious freedom, equal rights or are a symbol of diversity. Safai states that condoning the headscarf out of tolerance or multiculturalism is a form of cultural relativism and unjustified support for institutionalized discrimination. In 2016, Safai criticized Belgian Mouvement Réformateur senator Christine Defraigne for making an official visit to Iran and for wearing a headscarf while meeting with officials from the Iranian government.
She is fluent in Persian language, Flemish dialects, Belgian French and English language.
In December 2016, she was awarded the title 'Women Of Peace' by the Elke Sleurs at the Belgian Senate, for her fight for women's rights.
In October 2022, she gained media attention by cutting her hair, along with Belgian foreign minister, Hadja Lahbib, after a speech regarding Iranian protests after Mahsa Amini death.
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