Educational Classes for Those Accused of 'Improper Hijab' and 'Drinking Alcohol' Held in Fars Province

One day after the prosecutor of Sari announced that the vehicles of women who 'remove their hijab' would be confiscated, a judicial official in Fars Province announced the holding of educational classes for those arrested on charges of 'improper hijab' and drinking alcohol. Ismail Akbari, the head of crime prevention at the judiciary of Fars Province, stated on Wednesday, July 7, that those arrested for 'improper hijab' will be referred to the crime prevention department instead of being taken to court, and they will participate in an 8-hour educational class. Akbari described this action as 'aimed at preventing offenders from having a criminal record for certain crimes.' According to this judicial official, those arrested for drinking alcohol will also face a 'criminal case' and are expected to attend a five-hour educational class. On July 6, the prosecutor of Sari had announced that from now on, the vehicles of individuals who engage in 'removing their hijab' would be confiscated, and criminal cases would be filed against women who 'remove their hijab.' The use of non-Islamic dress in Iran is a crime. In recent years, there has been an increase in the crackdown on those who remove their hijab inside their personal vehicles. The news agency Mizan quoted Asadollah Jafari, the public and revolutionary prosecutor of Mazandaran Province, as reporting on the 'serious and legal action of the judiciary' against what is termed the 'problem of hijab removal in society.' The prosecutor of Sari also announced the confiscation of vehicles whose occupants lack Islamic hijab. He stated: 'Personal or public vehicles, motorcycles, motorboats, jet skis, and other motor vehicles of individuals whose occupants engage in hijab removal will also be confiscated by law enforcement and transferred to parking lots, and legal action will be taken against the accused according to relevant regulations.' A few weeks ago, the head of the traffic police warned about 'hijab removal' inside vehicles, stating that action would be taken against this issue. Two years ago, a fine of 100,000 tomans was approved for individuals who remove their hijab in their personal vehicles in cultural and judicial committees of the parliament. Such actions by the judiciary and law enforcement have faced severe criticism from women's rights activists and human rights groups.