TEHRAN, Iran: Iranian police have shut down the Turkish Airlines office in Tehran after female employees reportedly refused to wear the mandatory hijab, defying the country’s strict dress code laws.
The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that police officers visited the office on Monday to issue a warning about the “non-observance of hijab” by the employees, who are Iranian nationals.
According to Tasnim, the situation escalated when the employees resisted the police warning, leading to the closure of the office. The report mentioned that the office is expected to reopen on Wednesday, although police have not confirmed this.
Tasnim further stated that police typically issue first warnings for hijab violations rather than closing businesses immediately.
The incident highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding Iran’s mandatory headscarf law, which has been a source of significant controversy and protest. The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September 2022, after her arrest by the morality police for allegedly violating the hijab law, sparked mass protests across the country.
Although the protests have largely subsided, many Iranian women continue to defy the headscarf requirement, challenging the country’s theocratic government.
In recent years, Iranian authorities have closed hundreds of businesses, including shops, restaurants, pharmacies, and offices, for allowing female employees to forgo the hijab. This enforcement has intensified, particularly in the months leading up to the presidential election in June, following the death of former President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.
The confrontation at the Turkish Airlines office occurred on the same day that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Iran’s President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian to congratulate him on his election victory. Pezeshkian, who defeated hard-liner Saeed Jalili, has promised to improve relations with the West and ease the enforcement of the hijab law amid ongoing sanctions and protests.
According to Tehran Prosecutor Ali Salehi, no court cases or decisions have been made about the Turkish Airlines office’s closure. Iran and Turkey have maintained strong bilateral relations, with trade volume reaching $5.4 billion in 2023. Turkey remains a popular destination for Iranian tourists, with approximately 2.5 million Iranians visiting last year. Turkish Airlines is a preferred carrier among Iranians due to its shorter travel times to the United States and Canada compared to flights from Arabian Gulf countries.
The incident underscores the ongoing friction between Iran’s strict Islamic laws and the push for more liberal social norms, reflecting broader societal struggles within the country. The future actions of President-elect Pezeshkian regarding these issues will be closely watched both domestically and internationally.
