Continuation of Mandatory Hijab Policy; 'Zhira' Bookstore in Sanandaj Closed

On Tuesday, April 17, agents from the Sanandaj Public Places Office closed the 'Zhira' bookstore, managed by civil activist Zhina Modarres-Gorji. In a note on her Instagram page, Ms. Modarres-Gorji wrote that the closure was ordered by the Public Places Office due to what this law enforcement agency of the Islamic Republic called 'non-compliance with hijab regulations.' The Islamic Republic's police began another round of repression against opponents of the government's mandatory hijab on Saturday, April 13, referring to it as the 'Noor Plan.' With the return of the morality police to the streets under the 'Noor Plan,' multiple accounts of violence by government agents against women for civil disobedience regarding mandatory hijab and the right to choose their clothing have been reported. Zhina Modarres-Gorji noted the presence of a 'large crowd' of mostly young tradespeople at the Public Places Office in Sanandaj to follow up on the closure of their businesses. The manager of the 'Zhira' bookstore pointed out the consequences of shutting down businesses, writing: 'In these days of severe inflation, rising prices, and a stagnant market, how can we bear and analyze this additional pressure?' This civil activist mentioned that the 'most confrontations and clashes' in Sanandaj in recent days were related to the 'Banta' shopping center, adding that one of the employees of the Public Places Office referred to this shopping center as the 'center of corruption in Sanandaj.' Zhina Modarres-Gorji criticized the government's 'wrong policies' and sarcastically wrote: 'This center of corruption is currently the largest commercial complex in Sanandaj, where many young people are engaged in various economic activities.' According to this women's rights activist, the 'Zhira' bookstore is closed until Saturday, April 20, by order of the Public Places Office. Zhina Modarres-Gorji, who has a history of arrests due to her activism, is among the journalists who were detained during the nationwide protests in 2022. Following the death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini in the custody of the morality police in September 2022 and the outbreak of widespread protests across Iran, a significant percentage of women removed their headscarves in protest against mandatory hijab. The Islamic Republic has resorted to punitive measures such as issuing arrest warrants, flogging, deprivation of public and social services, and closing businesses in response to women's civil disobedience. The Iranian government's efforts to enforce mandatory hijab in public have so far been unsuccessful, and the presence of supporters of optional dress continues in public spaces across various cities. The continuation of the Islamic Republic's 'illegal' actions; missile strikes abroad, harassment of women domestically. A restaurant in Kermanshah was closed; 'norm-breaking' is a code name for continued confrontations with businesses. The police in Isfahan reported the arrest of 'those involved in the assault on the enforcers of virtue' and the closure of a business unit. Businesses continue to be targeted by judicial actions; a café-restaurant in Kerman was closed, and its manager was arrested.