Continued Threats Against Women Despite Widespread Protests; FARAJA: 'Noor' Plan Continues Strongly

As protests against the government's forces confronting women in Iran expand, the Islamic Republic's police force announced on Friday the continuation of the so-called 'Noor' plan to deal with women who choose optional hijab. In a statement, the police claimed that 'most women in the country have interacted, cooperated, and accompanied security and police officers since the beginning of this plan,' adding: 'We will legally and carefully deal with those who violate the dignity and respect of Iranian citizens.' FARAJA also claimed that the implementation of the plan to confront women with optional hijab, which they have named 'Noor,' has improved the hijab situation in society and that conditions will further improve in the coming days and weeks. Meanwhile, Ahmad Alamolhoda, representative of Ali Khamenei in Khorasan, assessed the police's actions against women as successful, stating: 'Some ill-intentioned individuals say this movement is a forceful confrontation, portraying it as if the police's intention is to confront and oppose; this is not the case; if someone stands against after a warning, there is no option left but to confront them.' On the other hand, Abdolhossein Ghabishavi, Khamenei's representative in Abadan, referred to the issuance of the 'Hijab and Chastity' law and called on the police, Basij forces, and the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice headquarters to confront women with optional hijab more extensively starting Saturday. This comes as images of the violent encounters between government forces and women who have chosen optional hijab have sparked widespread reactions among Iranians. Hamed Esmaeilioun, a member of the families of the victims of PS752, described the government's confrontation with women in Iran as a 'military campaign' and 'war against women' in a social media post on Friday, urging all Iranians living abroad to be the voice of the oppressed in this new wave of repression. Shirin Ebadi, head of the Human Rights Defenders Center, also wrote a letter on Friday, April 31, to Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, calling for international action to support women in the streets of Iran, referring to Khamenei's order for 'violent and coercive police action against women regarding mandatory hijab.' Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, in his Eid al-Fitr prayer speech on Wednesday, April 22, issued a new order to the 'promoters of virtue,' whom he had previously described as 'fire at will,' asking them to 'confront religious violations.' Hours after Khamenei's order, the police announced that they would implement the plan to confront women with optional hijab starting Saturday, April 25. Amnesty International, in a report published in Esfand 1402, stated: 'Iranian authorities are trying to eliminate resistance to mandatory hijab following the nationwide protests of 'Women, Life, Freedom,' attempting to instill fear in women and girls, disrupting their daily lives, and causing severe psychological distress.' An attack by a harasser and defender of mandatory hijab and the prevention of a woman's cycling in Rasht was a reaction to the 'Hijab and Chastity' bill in response to the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement. Conversations with Leili Pourzand and Forough Kanani: The government's insistence on enforcing mandatory hijab is enmity against the Iranian people. The intensification of government forces' confrontation with opponents of mandatory hijab continues. Shirin Ebadi called for international action to support women in Iran. The Iranian Pensioners' Council stated that the Islamic Republic has declared war against women, life, and freedom. It is the fifth day of the establishment of suppression forces against optional hijab; observers say Khamenei has issued a 'command for civil war.' Statement 15 'Religious Reformists': The era of either hijab or violence is over. Ayda Shakeri, sister of Nika Shakeri, was arrested for 'not wearing mandatory hijab.' Narges Mohammadi emphasized the 'weakness of the Islamic Republic' on the global stage and praised the 'heroic resistance of women' in Iran.