Iranian women are under extensive surveillance by authorities to ensure they wear headscarves, even while inside cars. Punishments, such as confiscating vehicles, are being imposed, According to Amnesty International,
In 2022, the leadership of the Islamic republic faced significant challenges due to mass protests where women spoke out against the dress code. Despite this, the leadership has emphasized that there are no intentions to remove the mandatory hijab established after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, as per Voice of America.
Iran's Surveillance of Women
Amnesty International raised awareness of the Iranian authorities' regarding use of surveillance and policing tactics against women in a recent report released before International Women's Day on March 8. According to accounts from more than 40 women in Iran, the report reveals the organized focus on women through extensive monitoring in public areas and large-scale police inspections targeted at women drivers.
Based on Amnesty's connections, surveillance cameras and undercover agents, using the police app Nazer, take pictures or record license plates of cars with women drivers or passengers believed to have broken the mandatory veiling regulation. Afterward, the women are sent text messages directing them to go to the police station and hand over their vehicles as a form of punishment. According to the report, a large number of impoundment orders have been issued.
The released vehicles, in some instances, can only be reclaimed after 15-30 days, subject to the payment of "arbitrary" fees and obtaining written pledges to adhere to compulsory veiling.
Amnesty's deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, Diana Eltahawy, denounced these "draconian tactics," describing them as a sinister attempt to crush resistance to compulsory veiling. She highlighted how Iranian authorities are instilling fear among women and girls by subjecting them to constant surveillance, policing, and disruptions to their daily lives, according to Daily Mail.
Iranian Women Face Inspections, Restrictions
The report describes cases of common random inspections, where police officers are pulling over female drivers to decide if their vehicles should be captured. Additionally, women may be denied access to transportation, airports, and banking services or face conditions based on the requirement to wear a headscarf.
Violating the compulsory veiling rule can lead to prosecution, as seen in the case of Roya Heshmati, who received a flogging sentence of 74 lashes in January 2024 for appearing unveiled in public.
The report illustrates what occurred following the passing of an individual named Amini, who was detained for wearing a loose hijab. Amini's passing caused widespread demonstrations, initially calling for increased liberties but evolving into a significant resistance against the authorities met with forceful crackdowns.
Despite the latest revelations leaving insight into the situation, the Iranian regime continues to stand firm in its support of the compulsory hijab, which was introduced in 1983, despite facing protests and criticism from the international community.
Approved in September 2023, the Iranian parliament passed a bill to support the culture of chastity and hijab, granting security forces more authority to crack down on violators. The bill is awaiting approval from the Guardian Council to be enacted, raising more worries about the outlook for women's rights in Iran, Rudaw reported.
