IRAN
Hijabs to be monitored by camera
As announced, the Iranian police intend to take particularly harsh action against women who do not comply with the Islamic Republic's dress code. In particular, this will involve violations of the obligation to wear a headscarf. Video surveillance will also be used for this purpose.
Online since yesterday, 21.56
Sarting immediately, the police will take consistent action against women who violate the headscarf ban in "public places, vehicles and other places," according to a statement published on the authority's website on Saturday. Technologies to identify those involved would also be used.
Those who violate the dress code will receive a warning via text message, Tasnim news agency reported. The camera software does not make mistakes. However, it is possible to raise objections, it said. Authorities had announced in early April that they would again enforce the rules more strictly at universities. Female students who do not comply with the law are to be excluded from classes.
Companies also affected
Removing the hijab is a criminal offense, the head of the security police, Hassan Mofachami, was quoted as saying. Those who violate the law should be held accountable. This also applies to companies that allow women to remove their headscarves in the workplace, he said. They, too, would initially be warned, but in the event of a repeat offence they would have to reckon with closure.
At the end of March, the head of Iran's judicial authority, Gholamhossein Mohseni Edschei, had announced that taking off the veil would be seen as "hostility to the values" of Iran and punished accordingly. The police had already announced a week ago the use of "smart cameras and other devices" in public places and streets to punish violators of the dress code. This should also affect car owners if one of the passengers is found without a hijab. In the event of a repeat offence, the vehicle could be confiscated.
Resistance to the regime continues. Now violations are to be systematically punished.
Headscarf as a symbol of resistance
The demonstrative abandonment of a headscarf covering the hair has become a central symbol of resistance against the government in Tehran. The protests, which have been going on for months, were triggered by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody in mid-September. The religious police had arrested her for allegedly wearing her headscarf incorrectly.
A large wave of protests was the result. Human rights activists estimate that more than 500 people have been killed and nearly 20,000 arrested since the protests began in September 2022. However, the protest movement has since weakened following the execution of demonstrators. However, more and more Iranian women are showing their rejection of the government in public by renouncing the headscarf - and taking great risks in doing so.
Regime under pressure
It is unclear whether and to what extent the Iranian regime and its religious and military ruling class are reeling from the protests and rallies. So far, they have always succeeded in putting down the protests - with great brutality. However, the government is under increasing pressure - also economically.
International criticism of the Iranian state's actions is and has been great and could also grow again with a resurgence of protests. Because of the violent crackdown on protesters, further sanctions have been imposed on the regime, leading to the country's international isolation.
Sanctions are therefore seen as the West's greatest means of pressure, and they are apparently having an impact. Economically, the government is in the worst crisis in Iranian history. The national currency, the rial, has plummeted in value, and there is no improvement in sight. The protests have already plunged the political leadership into its most serious crisis in decades.
Source (German)
Online since yesterday, 21.56
Sarting immediately, the police will take consistent action against women who violate the headscarf ban in "public places, vehicles and other places," according to a statement published on the authority's website on Saturday. Technologies to identify those involved would also be used.
Those who violate the dress code will receive a warning via text message, Tasnim news agency reported. The camera software does not make mistakes. However, it is possible to raise objections, it said. Authorities had announced in early April that they would again enforce the rules more strictly at universities. Female students who do not comply with the law are to be excluded from classes.
Companies also affected
Removing the hijab is a criminal offense, the head of the security police, Hassan Mofachami, was quoted as saying. Those who violate the law should be held accountable. This also applies to companies that allow women to remove their headscarves in the workplace, he said. They, too, would initially be warned, but in the event of a repeat offence they would have to reckon with closure.
At the end of March, the head of Iran's judicial authority, Gholamhossein Mohseni Edschei, had announced that taking off the veil would be seen as "hostility to the values" of Iran and punished accordingly. The police had already announced a week ago the use of "smart cameras and other devices" in public places and streets to punish violators of the dress code. This should also affect car owners if one of the passengers is found without a hijab. In the event of a repeat offence, the vehicle could be confiscated.
Resistance to the regime continues. Now violations are to be systematically punished.
Headscarf as a symbol of resistance
The demonstrative abandonment of a headscarf covering the hair has become a central symbol of resistance against the government in Tehran. The protests, which have been going on for months, were triggered by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody in mid-September. The religious police had arrested her for allegedly wearing her headscarf incorrectly.
A large wave of protests was the result. Human rights activists estimate that more than 500 people have been killed and nearly 20,000 arrested since the protests began in September 2022. However, the protest movement has since weakened following the execution of demonstrators. However, more and more Iranian women are showing their rejection of the government in public by renouncing the headscarf - and taking great risks in doing so.
Regime under pressure
It is unclear whether and to what extent the Iranian regime and its religious and military ruling class are reeling from the protests and rallies. So far, they have always succeeded in putting down the protests - with great brutality. However, the government is under increasing pressure - also economically.
International criticism of the Iranian state's actions is and has been great and could also grow again with a resurgence of protests. Because of the violent crackdown on protesters, further sanctions have been imposed on the regime, leading to the country's international isolation.
Sanctions are therefore seen as the West's greatest means of pressure, and they are apparently having an impact. Economically, the government is in the worst crisis in Iranian history. The national currency, the rial, has plummeted in value, and there is no improvement in sight. The protests have already plunged the political leadership into its most serious crisis in decades.
Source (German)
