Iranian police increase enforcement of dress code for women without hijab | Global News

Police in Iran have announced a new crackdown on women who ignore the country’s strict Islamic dress code, which requires them to wear headscarves in public. The capital’s police chief, AbbasAli Mohammadian, stated on live television that the police in Tehran, as well as in other provinces, will implement measures against violations of the hijab law.

Local media reported that the police in Tehran have launched a campaign codenamed “Noor” to crack down on those who break the hijab dress code. The authorities have made it mandatory for women to cover their hair and bodies in public places since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei recently reiterated that women in Iran must obey the dress code, regardless of their beliefs. The crackdown comes just days after his speech, where he blamed “the intervention of foreigners” for the imposed challenge of the hijab issue.

The morality police in Iran had kept a low profile since protests erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini in custody in September 2022. Amini died three days after being arrested for allegedly violating the dress code in Tehran. The authorities never formally abolished the morality police, and Amini’s death triggered months-long demonstrations labeled as “riots” by the government.

In recent months, reports have surfaced of police seizing vehicles transporting women without veils and punishing their owners. The authorities have also shut down cafes and restaurants where the hijab was not respected in an effort to tackle those breaking the hijab laws. After Amini’s death, more women across the country have been appearing in public without adhering to the dress code.