TEHRAN: Iranian authorities have closed over 150 businesses in a 24-hour period for failing to comply with the requirement for women to wear headscarves in public.
The strict Islamic dress code has been in place since shortly after the Islamic revolution of 1979. The crackdown follows a protest movement triggered by the death in custody of Kurdish-Iranian Mahsa Amini, 22, who was allegedly flouting the dress code.
Police have warned that car owners will receive a text message if a female passenger violates the dress code, and repeat offenders risk having their vehicle seized.
The crackdown also includes the use of surveillance cameras and facial recognition technology to identify those who violate the law.
Police spokesman Said Montazerolmahdi announced the closures, stating, “Unfortunately, police have had to seal 137 shops and 18 restaurants and reception areas for not heeding previous warnings on the dress code.”
He added that there had been several hundred cases of non-compliance recorded by police over the past 24 hours.
Last month, judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei stated that women who remove their headscarves “will be punished”.
The use of smart technology and increased police enforcement is a response to a growing number of women defying the dress code.
Crackdown raises concerns about human rights of women
The crackdown has raised concerns about the human rights of women in Iran, who face legal repercussions for not adhering to the dress code.
Activists argue that the law restricts women’s freedom and is a form of oppression. However, supporters of the law maintain that it is necessary to preserve Islamic values in Iranian society.
The ongoing crackdown highlights the continued tension in Iran between those who support strict Islamic laws and those who advocate for greater freedom and individual rights.
