Iran intensifies hijab enforcement, sparking widespread dissent
22 April 2024 16:59
In Iran, special units have been established to enforce the wearing of the hijab in public places effectively. According to female opposition members, the authorities are waging a war against all women on all the streets of the country.
The commander of the Revolutionary Guards Corps squads in the capital of Iran, Tehran, announced the creation of a new body to enforce the strict dress code for women, especially regarding the wearing of the hijab - as reported by Radio Free Europe (RFE).
Hasan Hasanzadeh stated that members of the specialized squad have been trained to effectively enforce the wearing of the hijab, a scarf that tightly covers the hair, in public places.
Since last week, the "Noor" campaign has been underway, within which authorities aim to compel women to wear conservative outfits, aligning with the state's interpretation of religious law.
"War against all women on all the streets"
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, who has been serving a 16-year prison sentence at the notorious Evin prison since 2016 for her campaign to abolish the death penalty in Iran, voiced her opinion on this matter.
She described the actions of the authorities as a "war unleashed by the authoritarian theocracy against all women on all the streets of the country". Mohammadi's message was posted on Instagram.
Hijab "a pillar of identity"
Interior Minister Ahmad Wahidi recently called the hijab one of the pillars of identity of the (Iranian) system and the principles of Sharia. The head of the department warned against allowing the obligation to morph into a loosely enforced law and assured that the ministry's actions regarding the hijab are carried out within the law.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahijan told the American CNN that women are used as a tool by foreign forces trying to change the political system in Iran.
The issue of wearing or rejecting the hijab is becoming increasingly prominent in global media. A turning point occurred in the autumn of 2022. That's when Iran experienced a wave of mass protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died after being detained by the police for not sufficiently covering her hair. Nationwide protests persisted for many months. Human rights organizations estimated that at least 550 demonstrators had died.
