Heavy Sentences Issued for Opponents of Mandatory Hijab in Arak on Charges of 'Insulting the Wife of a Martyr'

Despite the 'forgiveness of the private plaintiff' in a legal case against opponents of mandatory hijab, the judiciary of the Islamic Republic has announced prison sentences, flogging, and fines for individuals who protested against the 'promotion of virtue' by a defender of mandatory hijab. According to the news agency 'Mehr', Abdolmahdi Mousavi, the head of the Central Province Judiciary, claimed that the defendants had 'insulted' the wife of a 'martyr defending the shrine' in the city of Arak, stating that 'one man and two women' had 'offended' the wife of a military member of the Islamic Republic who was killed while defending the regime of Bashar al-Assad at a medical center in the city. This judicial official added that the defendants were 'arrested' at that time and after the issuance of an indictment, their case was referred to the Criminal Court 2 of Arak due to 'wounding public feelings and minds, the importance and sensitivity of the matter, and the widespread reflection in public opinion' for sentencing. In this case, a man and two women, who were present at a medical center with optional hijab for treatment purposes, were attacked and protested by a woman under the title of 'promotion of virtue and prevention of vice,' which led to their arrest and subsequent judicial ruling against them. The head of the Central Province Judiciary acknowledged the 'forgiveness of the plaintiff' and reported the sentencing of these citizens to 'one year of imprisonment, 74 lashes, and a monetary fine.' This judicial official of the Islamic Republic declared the charges against opponents of mandatory hijab as 'disturbing public order through noise and commotion in the medical environment, harassment of women in public places, and presence without proper hijab in public spaces.' In recent months, coinciding with the anniversary of the start of nationwide protests and the killing of Mahsa Amini in police custody, harassment of opponents of mandatory hijab and the issuance of judicial sentences against them have intensified. The severity and nature of some of these judicial sentences against opponents of mandatory hijab have led to widespread reflection in both domestic and international public opinion, facing strong objections from human rights organizations, legal activists, and social experts. In this context, four psychiatric and psychological associations in Iran criticized the referral of opponents of mandatory hijab to psychological centers in a letter to Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the head of the judiciary, on July 20. The issuance of these heavy sentences, which many legal experts consider contrary to citizens' rights, occurs simultaneously with the consideration of a legal bill titled 'Hijab and Chastity Law,' supported by the leaders of the Islamic Republic's branches. In one of the latest developments, this bill is set to be approved by a joint commission in Parliament according to 'Article 85' of the Constitution, without being presented in the public session of Parliament. Nazila Golestani, a political activist, emphasized in an interview with Voice of America that the Islamic Republic lacks the capacity to implement the 'Chastity and Hijab' bill, calling it 'a show.' Qasem Sholehsadi, a legal expert, told Voice of America that the 'Chastity and Hijab' bill is like 'a ticking time bomb' and expressed hope that 'it would be approved in Parliament.'