The feared ‘morality police’ are back in the streets of Iran, with stricter dress code for women
Nationwide protests had rocked Iran after Mahsa Amini died of suspicious circumstances after being arrested by the religious morality police for breaking the dress code rules back in 2022. Nullifying all effects of those protests, the Guidance patrol – morality police have made a return in Iran, with stricter enforcement of the Hijab Rule and policing of women’s attire.
On July 16, the Iranian police announced the enforcement of a new campaign, wherein women would have to compulsorily wear the Islamic headgear, the Hijab. The moral police have made a comeback on the streets, 10 months after the tragic death of Mahsa Amini and the following protests.
The morality police and their responsibility
Under Iranian law, which is in accordance with the Islamic Sharia law, women are expected to wear a headscarf (hijab) to cover their hair and long, loose-fitting clothes to cover their figures. The task of the morality police is to ensure adherence and respect towards these rules and detaining those who are ‘improperly’ dressed.
The morality police had largely backed down after the nationwide protests which threatened the reign of the theocracy in Iran, ruling for more than four decades. The protests were deadly, with over 500 protestors killed and 20,000 more arrested, along with several state executions. They mostly consisted of women and protestors of the young generation who accused the government of being repressive, regressive and corruption-ridden. The demonstrations in the capital city included women not wearing Hijabs and even cutting their hair publicly. Notable actors, directors and celebrities had also joined the protests. In response to the violent crackdown on the protests by the Iranian government, sanctions were imposed by the UK and other countries.
The protests died down this year, but women continued to flout the dress code in Tehran, the capital and other cities. Patrolling in the streets became rare, and there were rumours about the disbandment of the Guidance patrol. Although, authorities claimed throughout that the rules had not changed or diluted. Iran’s theological leaders perceive Hijab as a key element of their Islamic rule, and denounce casual dress as Western decadence.
Image Source: The Hindu
Gen Saeed Montazerol Mahdi, a police spokesperson, announced on Sunday that the moral police would take up their work again and first warn and then arrest women for not wearing Hijab in public places. Men and women morality police were seen patrolling the streets.
Iranian actor Mohammad Sadeghi was arrested following his comments on social media where he said that he would kill the morality police if he saw an arrest happening. The actor was venting his anger on Instagram through a live video.
Recently, actress Azadeh Samadi was also banned from social media and received a court sentence to undertake psychological counselling for ‘antisocial personality disorder’ because she attended a funeral two months ago only with a cap on her head, and no Hijab.
