After a prolonged hiatus, Iran’s notorious modesty squads have resumed their efforts to enforce women’s dress codes. Under the surface, Iranian men are quietly pondering: “What would I do if I were walking down the street with my hijab-less wife, girlfriend, friend, classmate, or sister, and the morality police suddenly approach us? Will I defend my partner or remain silent?” This frequently asked question, succinctly translated from Persian, essentially boils down to whether Iranian men will be heroes or cowards when faced with such a dilemma.
Last September, the death of a young woman named Mahsa Amini while in the custody of Iran’s morality police ignited a wildfire of anger, encompassing various issues ranging from ethnic and sexual discrimination to corruption, economic mismanagement, and environmental problems. These unnecessary grievances persist in a country blessed with vast natural resources and a highly educated population. The regime responded to the public outcry with violence, arrests, and executions throughout the autumn of 2022. Nevertheless, this confrontation has had a transforming effect on the urban landscape of Iran.
In Tehran’s affluent neighborhoods such as Karim Khan, Valiasr Street, and Vanak Square, as well as in theaters, cafes, and malls across the country, one can observe a noticeable change. It seems that more than just the hijab has been discarded; the amount of fabric adorning women’s bodies is diminishing, revealing more skin. A new trend of embracing bare skin has emerged, marking a significant departure from the norms of the Islamic Republic.
The regime, however, allowed this visible shift to occur by choosing not to aggressively suppress it as it had done in previous periods of turmoil, such as the summer of 2009 and the fall of 2019. Unlike before, the rebellion of 2022, known as a “khoruji” or an “exit” in Persian, has produced tangible results. Going without a hijab, which was once an act of civil disobedience, has now become an established reality. The authorities had once made the mandatory hijab a “red line” that should never be crossed. Yet, the system now grapples with the question of what to do when citizens nonchalantly cross this red line on a daily basis.
Last autumn, as protests subsided, the Islamic Republic displayed a degree of tolerance, albeit reluctantly, by removing the despised morality police vans from the streets. For the first time since the revolution’s early days, women with and without hijabs peacefully coexisted, side by side, in Iranian cities. Witnessing Iranians from different cultural backgrounds sharing public spaces was an awe-inspiring novelty.
However, this summer, the patrols have returned to the major streets, albeit without forcibly taking away hijab-less women as they did in the past. Now, women without head coverings are given warnings to comply with the dress code. Those who refuse are recorded on camera for later identification through facial recognition technology and potential legal action.
The regime in Tehran is not accustomed to yielding, except in rare instances. Earlier this summer, a video showing a patrol attempting to force a young woman into their van went viral. In a desperate response, the authorities claimed the video was fake and insisted that the morality police were abiding by their promise not to use physical force against those deemed inappropriately dressed.
One evening, while the hot summer day relinquished some of its scorching heat and people ventured out onto the streets of Tehran, a memorable incident took place in Haft-e-Tir Square. A group of four women wearing full hijabs, accompanied by five men from their circle, formed a gauntlet that pedestrians had to pass through. One man in the group, dressed in a police vest and equipped with a camera, signaled a young woman with long, uncovered hair to wear a hijab. Unfazed, the young woman stood her ground and firmly stated, “I don’t wear a hijab.” The female agent half-heartedly signaled the cameraman to start filming, claiming the woman was breaking the law. As the young woman calmly continued on her way, she encapsulated the dilemma faced by the Islamic Republic: while the law is supposed to combat corruption and the misappropriation of public funds, the regime appears more concerned about the hijab than these pressing issues.
Not everyone possesses the same courage to confront the morality police directly, but even those who don’t seem less intimidated than before. Many stopped individuals simply retrieve shawls from their bags, briefly wear them as they pass the uniforms, and then put them away again. Within parliament, out-of-touch deputies attempt to pass stricter laws imposing fines and imprisonment for women who violate the hijab regulations. However, even those in power likely realize they are fighting a losing battle.
A decade ago, the regime faced a similar situation with satellite television broadcasting from abroad. The more authorities tried to eliminate satellite dishes from homes, the more they proliferated. Evencrushing thousands of dishes with tanks couldn’t curb Iranians’ appetite for foreign broadcasts or their resourcefulness in obtaining them. Satellite dishes, much like the mandatory hijab, were once considered a red line. Today, according to the Islamic Republic’s own reports, 90 percent of households have access to satellite TV.
As fall approaches, along with the anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death and the months of protests following it, Iran resembles a boxing ring surrounded by fervent spectators. On one side, the regime and its supporters prepare themselves, while on the other side, there is everyone else. Consequently, many Iranian men find themselves grappling with a pivotal question: How will they respond to this challenge? These whispered inquiries have transformed into a countdown, with answers that are far from definitive, yet the urgency of the question remains constant. It may seem that these men are waiting for the women of their country to lead the charge, and in many ways, that perception holds true.
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