In "Reading Lolita in Tehran," Azar Nafisi expresses her discontent with how her veil, initially a representation of her spiritual connection with God, has been transformed into a tool of political expression. She feels that the essence of her relationship with the divine has been overshadowed by the social and political implications linked to the wearing of the veil in her society.

This shift converts women into mere symbols within a political context, stripping away the personal significance and sanctity that the veil once held for Nafisi. Instead of being a private emblem of faith, it now serves to signify broader political ideologies, leading to feelings of resentment among those who cherish its original meaning.