In an effort to reinforce the mandatory veiling of women, Iranian authorities are planning to enhance monitoring through video surveillance, as reported by Iran’s Etemad newspaper. The parliamentary justice committee aims to extend the existing monitoring system used in road traffic to encompass public spaces.
According to the report, women found violating the dress code will initially receive a warning through a text message. Repeat offenses will result in fines imposed as punishment. This development follows a January report by Etemad that discussed stricter penalties for breaches of the Islamic dress code, including community service assignments, re-education courses, travel bans, employment restrictions, and fines.
The article highlights the diminishing presence of the morality police, responsible for enforcing the headscarf law, from the streets in recent months. This has led to a growing number of women in major Iranian cities choosing not to wear the veil. Critics within Iran express dissatisfaction with the lack of societal support for these newly tightened laws.
The report also touches upon the ongoing protests in Iran against oppressive policies that have persisted for over four months. The catalyst for these demonstrations was the death of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian Kurdish woman who died in police custody after being arrested by the morality police for allegedly violating the strict dress code.
In a separate development, Reuters has reported on social media images depicting an emaciated Iranian dissident, Farhad Meysami, who has been on a hunger strike since October 7, 2018. Meysami, 53, has been in jail since 2018 for supporting women activists protesting against Iran’s headscarf policy. The hunger strike serves as a protest against recent government actions, including the killing of demonstrators. Concerns are raised about the dissident’s health, with supporters warning that he may face death due to his prolonged hunger strike.