Basij Organization of Guilds: Special Uniforms Designed for Female Vendors

The head of the Basij Organization of Guilds stated, "100 special designs for female vendor uniforms have been created." According to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Gholamreza Hassanpour mentioned that within the framework of the Mod Afarin Festival, attended by fashion designers from universities, 100 designs for appropriate clothing for female vendors were approved to be used as "uniforms for vendors" in commercial units. He emphasized the need for "organizing the clothing of vendors" in these units and announced the provision of "cultural programs in commercial complexes in the form of audio and visual programs within the complex to convey cultural messages." In recent weeks, numerous reports have emerged about the closure of businesses and, in some cases, forest parks and recreational areas due to what was declared as "non-compliance with Islamic hijab." Officials of the Islamic Republic have also attempted to compel girls and women to adhere to mandatory hijab through policies and restrictions. In this context, Abdolhossein Khosrowpanah, Secretary of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution of the Islamic Republic, expressed concern during a television interview on Saturday, May 6, about the spread of civil disobedience and resistance among Iranian girls and women against mandatory hijab, fearing that this wave could reach "high statistics" in the summer. He stated regarding public protests against mandatory clothing that it was predicted "before the New Year" that if "this situation" continues, "we will face a high rate of non-hijab in the summer." This official described the "current situation" as worse compared to "last year's events," which saw widespread street protests for months in various cities across Iran, adding that since "law enforcement and cultural activities" have been implemented, "we have not seen an increase in non-hijab, although we have not witnessed a desirable decrease either." What he referred to as "law enforcement and cultural activities" points to the repression of protesters and the subsequent imposition of certain social restrictions along with the closure of some businesses. Previously, Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, on April 4, described the refusal to wear mandatory hijab as "religiously and politically forbidden" and also as "political planning." Despite the government's increasing crackdown on opponents of the mandatory hijab, including arrests in the streets and the closure of establishments, reports and images that are being published indicate the continued opposition of citizens to the mandatory hijab in various forms.