Escalation of 'Closure Therapy' for Businesses and Services; From Hostels to Cafes on the Closure List

The closure of businesses in Iran under the pretext of not adhering to mandatory hijab continues, with reports from Iran indicating that a 'rural tourism' center in Qazvin, three hostels in Mahabad, and another cafe in Tehran have been shut down. According to the news agency affiliated with state television, the secretary of the Cultural Heritage Monitoring Office of the Qazvin Prosecutor's Office announced the closure of a center in this province, stating, 'This rural tourism center was closed due to certain social anomalies in the area of chastity and hijab, and actions have been taken to form a legal case against this violating unit.' The 'Andorra' cafe in Tehran also announced on its Instagram page that it has been closed for the second time until further notice. Naser Sadafi, head of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Department of Mahabad, stated that three 'unauthorized' guesthouses operating without necessary regulations in this county have been shut down. Earlier, the administrative building of Digikala was temporarily closed by security forces on Sunday, July 23, due to 'female employees' hijab.' Additionally, the newspaper Shargh reported on August 2 that despite legal experts emphasizing that shutting down businesses 'due to the behavior of one individual' is an action 'contrary to the law,' over '100 businesses have been sealed in the past month for not adhering to Islamic dress code' and 'Islamic decorum.' This Tehran-based newspaper noted that the closure of businesses aimed at countering those who do not comply with mandatory hijab occurs despite the 'poor economic and livelihood conditions prevailing in society.' Following the resumption of nationwide protests in September 2022 after the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, morality patrols have become less visible on the streets; however, the Islamic Republic has resorted to methods such as closing businesses and denying services to those who do not observe mandatory hijab. A few months ago, the three branches of the Islamic Republic collaborated to prepare a 'Chastity and Hijab' bill, which is currently under review by the legal and cultural committees of the Islamic Consultative Assembly. This bill, if approved, will impose various penalties on opponents of mandatory hijab, and according to the latest decision by parliament representatives, it will be reviewed and approved under Article 85 of the Constitution, which means it does not require a vote in the public assembly and will be sent directly to the Guardian Council. Hardliners are not satisfied with the controversial hijab bill; closures continue, and demands for punishment, including flogging and arrests, to enforce mandatory hijab persist. Iran's share of tourism revenue is one percent of global turnover; Iranians are boosting tourism in neighboring countries. Several Mazandaran citizens have been arrested on charges of 'mocking mandatory hijab.' There has been an escalation in actions against athletes supporting protests; security forces raided the home of Hossein Mahini. Startups are facing blockages under the pretext of 'improper hijab'; officials claim ignorance. The municipality of Mashhad, 'following the Taliban,' has banned the use of outdoor spaces in restaurants and cafes. 'Digikala' was unsealed after apologizing and emphasizing 'commitment to the laws of the Islamic Republic.'