The Iranian regime has increased its crackdown against civil and political liberties to counter a society crushed under skyrocketing prices and inflation.
Repression maneuvers, executions, restrictions on the Internet, and setting up bases to impose compulsory hijab on women are among the measures that the authorities have taken to suppress the people.
New bases established to enforce mandatory hijab
The state-run ILNA news agency said on May 22 that a comprehensive plan to control mal vailing has been developed in 11 fields.
ILNA quoted the Secretary of the Headquarters for Enjoining the Good and Forbidding the Evil, as saying that a “comprehensive plan to control the hijab” had been drawn up in 11 fields.
Hashemi Golpayegani declared the announcement of “hijab indicators” to 120 government agencies as the first stage of this plan. He said that with the establishment of “21 Tir” and “Jahad Tabeen” bases, the necessary preparations will be made for the implementation of this plan.
The first task of various government bodies is to suppress women in the form of clothing.
The issue of the compulsory veil has taken on political and national security significance over the past 40 years and turned into one of the regime’s top priorities. The misogynist regime in Iran has developed various mechanisms to enforce the mandatory Hijab, and the organization set up for this task has widely expanded through the years.
27 ministries and institutions are tasked with enforcing the mandatory Hijab on Iranian women.
In September 2019, the supreme cultural council approved a document entitled “Supplementary Collection.” Under the new plan, 27 state agencies are responsible for enforcing the mandatory Hijab, which includes 10 ministries.
All the above said agencies and the bodies not mentioned were involved in the suppression of women’s work by the policies of the Supreme Council for Cultural Revolution, which is chaired by the regime’s President.
Strict punishment for violating compulsory hijab rules
Under Iran’s compulsory veiling laws, women and girls are forced to cover their hair with a headscarf against their will. Women who do not are treated as criminals by the state.
Iran’s “morality” police place the entire female population – 40 million women and girls – under surveillance.
The punishment for being seen in public without a headscarf includes arrest, a prison sentence, flogging, or a fine.
Iranian authorities in recent years claimed that women with “bad hijabs” violate Article 638 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code. However, the code does not specifically mention the hijab.
According to Article 638: “Anyone in public places and roads who openly commits a harām [sinful] act, in addition to the punishment provided for the act, shall be sentenced to two months imprisonment or up to 74 lashes; and if they commit an act that is not punishable but violates public prudency, they shall only be sentenced to ten days to two months imprisonment or up to 74 lashes.”
