Iranian authorities have launched a new initiative to enforce the mandatory wearing of the Islamic headscarf for women, while the morality police have returned to the streets after a woman’s death in their custody sparked widespread protests.
Following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini last September, mass protests erupted across Iran, calling for the overthrow of the long-standing theocracy. In response, the morality police had temporarily withdrawn from public view. However, the protests were eventually quelled earlier this year through a harsh crackdown that resulted in the deaths of over 500 protesters and the detainment of nearly 20,000 individuals. Despite this, many women, particularly in Tehran and other cities, continued to disregard the official dress code.
There were even reports in December, which were later denied, suggesting that the morality police had been disbanded. However, authorities maintained that the rules regarding the hijab had not changed. Iran’s clerical rulers consider the hijab a central tenet of the Islamic revolution that brought them to power, viewing more relaxed dress styles as symbols of Western decadence.
On Sunday, General Saeed Montazerolmahdi, a police spokesperson, announced that the morality police would resume their practice of notifying and detaining women found in public without the hijab. In Tehran, both male and female members of the morality police could be seen patrolling the streets in marked vans.
In a separate incident, Mohammed Sadeghi, a relatively unknown actor, was arrested in a police raid on his home, which he broadcasted on social media. Prior to this, Sadeghi had posted a video in response to another video showing a woman being detained by the morality police, expressing his frustrations and even stating that he might resort to violence. According to the website of the semi-official Hamshahri daily, Sadeghi was arrested for inciting violence against the police.
The battle over the hijab has become a powerful symbol of resistance in Iran, with women taking a leading role in the protests. The demonstrations quickly evolved into calls for the overthrow of Iran’s clerical rulers, who the primarily young protesters accuse of corruption, repression, and being disconnected from the people. The Iranian government, however, attributed the protests to a foreign conspiracy without providing any evidence.
Many Iranian celebrities, including prominent directors and actors from the country’s renowned film industry, joined the protests. Several Iranian actresses were detained for appearing in public without wearing the hijab or expressing support for the protests. In a recent case, actress Azadeh Samadi was banned from social media and court-ordered to undergo psychological treatment for “antisocial personality disorder” after wearing a cap at a funeral two months ago.
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