Iranian police began on Saturday to once again target women who do not cover themselves with the mandatory Islamic veil by using cameras to identify them, in a new step to reimpose this garment in the Islamic country.
Many Iranian women have stopped wearing the Islamic veil as a form of protest and civil disobedience since the death of Mahsa Amini in September, precisely because she was detained for wearing the hijab incorrectly.
For months, the Islamic Republic focused on suppressing the protests sparked by Amini’s death and now, once the revolt is under control, they have turned their attention back to reimposing the veil, mandatory in the country since 1983.
“The police plan to deal with bad hijab on the streets, vehicles and shopping centers is being implemented from today,” the Fars news agency, linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, reported.
Last Saturday, the Iranian police announced that they would use cameras and intelligent tools to identify women who do not wear the hijab in public places and gave a one-week deadline to begin implementing the measure.
Women identified without the veil will receive a text message informing them of the offense. If they repeat the offense, charges will be brought against them and they will have to appear before a court.
“Dear Madam, on the day… in the place of… you committed the offense of removing the hijab in public, in accordance with Article 638 of the Islamic Penal Code,” reads the message that women will receive, according to the Tasnim news agency.
“This message is a preliminary warning, and if you insist on repeating the crime of not covering yourself with a veil, you will face the law,” the warning text message continues.
The law punishes women who do not wear the veil with fines and up to two months in prison, but authorities are also considering other options such as deprivation of banking services.
Women discovered without the veil in their cars face the possible seizure of their vehicle.
Authorities have also warned shops and restaurants not to serve uncovered women and have already closed many businesses for that reason.
Iranian justice also announced on Saturday that not only will women without a veil be persecuted, but those who encourage women to remove the mandatory Islamic veil in public will also be judged without the possibility of appeal.
TYT Newsroom
