Iran’s “morality police” has resurfaced, resuming its efforts to enforce strict hijab rules in the country after a temporary halt sparked by mass protests last year. The death of Mahsa Amini, who was in police custody for allegedly wearing an “improper” hijab, ignited widespread outrage and defiance among Iranian women. However, with the morality police now back on the streets, concerns about the erosion of women’s rights and the perpetuation of an oppressive culture remain at the forefront of the struggle.
According to the spokesperson for Faraja, Iran’s law enforcement body, officers will begin by issuing warnings to women who violate the country’s hijab rules. Legal actions, including arrests and re-education facilities, await those who persist in disregarding the consequences. Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet, a scholar of Iranian and Middle Eastern history, explains that the return of the morality police was expected. The hijab laws have long symbolized the Islamic Republic’s political power, making it difficult for the regime to back down from a policy deeply rooted in its identity.
Mass protests erupted after Mahsa Amini’s tragic death, with many Iranian women defying the morality police by completely abandoning the compulsory hijab. Demonstrators chanted slogans advocating for women’s rights as they burned their headscarves, revealing the growing opposition to the strict dress code. Remarkably, during this period, the morality police largely refrained from active enforcement despite pressure from hardliners to resume their patrols.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s regime faced one of its greatest challenges as a result of the protests. The response from authorities, characterized by a fierce crackdown and violence, claimed the lives of at least 500 protestors, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. As the one-year anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death and the women-led protests looms, the Iranian government’s decision to announce the resumption of morality police activities appears strategic in an attempt to thwart any potential uprising.
In its quest to enforce hijab laws, the Iranian government recently introduced surveillance cameras to identify and penalize women violating the dress code. Numerous women, including prominent actresses and athletes, have faced summonses and harsh sentences for removing their headscarves. Despite these attempts, Iranian activist and journalist Masih Alinejad asserts that the government’s various tactics have proven ineffective. Many women continue to walk unveiled on the streets and protest against mandatory hijab.
Market Capital Research 