Iran escalates hijab crackdown, victims speak out against morality police abuse

Iran has escalated its crackdown on the hijab restrictions sparking backlash and concern among opposition and human rights groups, several media reports have said.

The Nour Project

After the announcement of the 'Nour Project,' which aims to 'deal with anomalies' and has led to the presence of 'morality police' in various cities, reports from the ground indicate incidents of sexual harassment, beatings, and tasering, despite the police being instructed to promote 'positive behaviors' and refrain from 'negative behaviors'.

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Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei earlier made remarks on the significance of wearing the hijab. He said that "maintaining the hijab was of utmost importance," as "the enemy intends to regress the country to a pre-revolutionary era."

"I received credible reports that they [foreigners] hired some [women] to break the rules in the society and appear without hijab," he claimed.

Victims speak out

Dina Ghalibaf, a journalist and student at Tehran's Beheshti University, was arrested from her home on Tuesday after posting on X, "This is what the inside of a morality police van looks like, where they kidnap women for not wearing the hijab. These days in Iran, the Islamic Republic is using the cover of tensions with Israel to renew its war against women."

"As the spotlight of both Iranian and international media is centered on the mounting crisis between the Islamic Republic and Israel, morality police patrols have turned out in greater numbers to enforce mandatory hijab laws. This recent crackdown coincides with a speech given by Ali Khamenei on April 4, where he asserted that all Iranian women must comply with the state's dress code, regardless of their individual beliefs," she added.

Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad wrote on X, "Heartbreaking Alert: Confrontation with Morality Police leads to a woman’s breakdown over hijab enforcement in Tajrish, Tehran. She’s assaulted and rushed to the hospital. The person who filmed this terrifying attack on her says that police arrested some who were filming."

"The regime in Iran is willing to kill women over the Islamic dress code, evident in the lack of punishment following the death of #MahsaAmini. I continuously hear from Iranian women that we won’t give up our fight against this oppressive regime," she added.

Reports suggest that plainclothes officers are being deployed to prevent interference during arrests. Despite the regime's efforts to enforce hijab laws, Iranian women continue to push back.