Concerns of Islamic Republic Officials Over Increased Civil Resistance Against Mandatory Hijab in Summer

The Secretary of the governmental body "Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution" has expressed concern that the wave of civil disobedience and resistance from girls and women in Iran against mandatory hijab will reach "high numbers" this summer. Abdolhossein Khosrowpanah, the Secretary of the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council of the Islamic Republic, stated in a television interview on Saturday, May 6, that it was predicted "before the holiday" that if "the same situation" continues, "we will face a high rate of unveiled women in the summer." He noted that the "current situation" is "worse" than the "events of last year," which saw widespread street protests for months in various cities across Iran. He added that since the implementation of "law enforcement and cultural activities," there has been no increase in unveiled women, although there has not been a desirable decrease either. What this official refers to as "law enforcement and cultural activities" indicates the suppression of protesters and the imposition of certain social restrictions, along with the closure of some businesses. In recent weeks, numerous reports have emerged regarding the closure of businesses and, in some cases, parks and recreational areas due to what was declared as "non-compliance with the legal hijab." In part of this television interview, the Secretary of the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council claimed that "many" individuals in society adhere to the mandatory hijab, indicating that government agencies are "serious" about "preserving chastity and hijab" in society. Following the nationwide protests last year, which peaked after the death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody in various cities, the security and law enforcement agencies of the Islamic Republic suppressed the protesters, resulting in hundreds killed, tens of thousands arrested, and at least four executions. In recent months, to counter the wave of civil protests against mandatory hijab, some government or public institutions affiliated with the regime have reduced their services to opponents of the mandatory hijab. Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, on April 3 of this year, described the refusal to wear the mandatory hijab as "religiously forbidden and politically forbidden" and also referred to it as "political planning." Despite the expansion of government actions against opponents of the mandatory hijab, including arrests in the streets, closures of venues, and preventing the airing of certain productions from the home entertainment network or summoning organizers of cultural and sports events, reports and images released indicate that citizens continue to oppose the mandatory hijab in various forms. The summoning of the organizers of the Shiraz marathon occurred after women participated without the mandatory hijab in the competition. The government's confrontation with women's civil disobedience continues, and the likelihood of not broadcasting some Iranian series due to the actors' bans has increased. The crackdown on opponents of the mandatory hijab includes the closure of the "Diplomat Center Complex"; the officials of the Shiraz marathon have been summoned, and after Katayoun Riahi, Pantea Bahram is also going to the prosecutor's office.