Continuation of Burnt Scenarios; Security Media: Opponents of Mandatory Hijab are Paid

Media affiliated with the security institutions of the Islamic Republic have continued their narrative against protesters of 'mandatory hijab', claiming that these women protest in the streets in exchange for money. The Tasnim news agency, linked to the Iranian government's security institutions, reported that, according to 'information' obtained by its reporter from 'some law enforcement and security sources', 'several individuals have recently been arrested' who had the 'mission' to 'move around the streets' with a 'specific type of clothing' that does not conform to 'Iranian norms' for 'payment'. In another part of its report, without disclosing how it accessed the detainees, detention centers, or the content of interrogations, it quoted 'one of these women who was arrested' claiming that for 'every hour of movement in a taboo-breaking manner' in Tehran, she was told that 'an amount of 3 to 5 dollars' would be paid to them. In recent months, especially after widespread protests against mandatory hijab, the security and law enforcement agencies of the Islamic Republic have repeatedly tried to associate the protesters with 'Western countries' or with 'connections to enemy agents'. The Kayhan newspaper, published in Tehran and run under the supervision of Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, also referred to the opposition of Iranian women to mandatory hijab as 'unveiling' and wrote on April 15 that by 'deepening into the enemy's program', one can see 'behind-the-scenes movements', but unfortunately, many of those who have 'fallen for the enemy's insinuations' are unaware of the 'trap' they have fallen into and the 'ground' they are playing on. Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, on April 15, described refusal to wear mandatory hijab as 'religiously forbidden and politically forbidden' and also referred to it as 'political planning'. Based on this speech, government institutions including the judiciary, law enforcement, and the Islamic Consultative Assembly have included actions to deal with opponents of mandatory hijab and to legislate laws in their agenda. The Persian section of 'Voice of America' has discussed Khamenei's statements and some of their implications in special programs over the past week with religious and political experts. Additionally, the report mentions increased enforcement actions against artists and citizens who oppose mandatory hijab, public support for a woman resisting a couple reminding her of the hijab, and denial of banking services at one branch of Bank Saderat due to lack of mandatory hijab. Kaveh Farnam, a producer, stated that the courage of artists who do not accept mandatory dress is commendable. Two cinema actors were accused of 'disturbing public opinion' due to 'unveiling'. There has been an increase in strict measures against opponents of mandatory hijab in the metro.