Alamolhoda: Ministers and MPs rush to condemn the insult to a woman without hijab

Ahmad Alamolhoda, the Friday prayer leader of Mashhad, referred to two recent newsworthy events in Iran, stating: "Ministers and MPs rush to condemn the insult to a woman without hijab," but he noted that during the ceremony at Salman Tower in Mashhad, "women are removing their headscarves and no one in the country cares." Alamolhoda's comments were in response to the release of a video showing a young girl being beaten by 'morality police,' which sparked widespread reactions, as well as the celebration of attendees at a lottery event at Salman Tower in Mashhad that led to the arrest of the head of the cultural department. According to ILNA news agency, Ahmad Alamolhoda stated in his Friday sermon on April 20, "A police officer made a mistake in executing his duties; suddenly all state apparatuses, even in the parliament, which is a temple and base for the development of religion, say no one should confront the unveiled." The video of the young girl being beaten by the 'morality police' triggered a wave of protests on social media, but the Islamic Republic officials, in a typical reaction, announced they would investigate the matter. The police spokesperson expressed regret over the incident and urged women to adhere to "social decorum." Several senior officials and female representatives also condemned the specific treatment of a "badly veiled" or "badly dressed" woman and offered mild criticisms of the 'morality police.' However, Ahmad Alamolhoda praised the police for "coming to the aid of the revolution in all situations" and remarked that "everyone screams to support a woman without hijab," while in Mashhad, "women are removing their headscarves and no one cares except the officials of the judiciary." The release of images showing the joy and dancing of attendees at a monthly lottery event held on Tuesday evening at Salman Tower in Mashhad led to a widespread attack by conservative media in recent days, labeling the event as "subversive" and introducing it as the "opening of a women's underwear store." However, one of the Salman Tower managers denied all these claims in an interview with ISNA, stating that the event was permitted and had been held multiple times without issue. According to Mohsen Afshar, a board member of Salman Tower, "the controversies surrounding this celebration were created by a group of people who want to make a mountain out of a molehill and create a stir over every issue." Despite the explanations from Salman Tower officials regarding the monthly lottery event, Ahmad Alamolhoda reiterated the claim of a "women's underwear store" in his Friday sermon in Mashhad, stating he could not "witness these atrocities and not react." Despite the explanations from Salman Tower officials, judicial authorities in Mashhad announced on Thursday that the head of the cultural department had been arrested "for violating public decency, failing to adhere to relevant laws, and causing disturbances for the merchants of Salman Tower." The name of Mashhad, especially in the past year, has repeatedly appeared in the news due to Ahmad Alamolhoda's strong opposition to holding concerts and performing music, as well as his controversial remarks. Alamolhoda, who previously opposed the holding of music concerts only in Mashhad, announced in April 2017 that he opposed "holding concerts throughout the country."