Increased Enforcement of Mandatory Hijab: Places and Restaurants Shut Down Under 'Noor Plan'

Reports from various cities indicate an intensification of the closure of popular establishments and restaurants under the pretext of non-compliance with mandatory hijab regulations for employees and customers, with these closures announced by the official accounts of these places to the public. The 'Boroz' restaurant in Isfahan announced on its Instagram story on Sunday, May 13, that it was closed by the order of the Places Administration due to 'hijab' violations and would not serve customers until further notice. A citizen also reported on X about the closure of two traditional tea houses in Qazvin. Another citizen from Tehran wrote that their business, 'Oh Cafe,' was shut down. On Friday, May 12, Alireza Beiranvand's cafe, the national goalkeeper for Persepolis, was closed by judicial authorities due to reported hijab violations. The Instagram page of Beiranvand's cafe, named 'P1,' published a photo of the cafe's closure, indicating that the police overseeing places shut it down due to 'non-compliance with the laws and regulations of the country and disregard for administrative guidelines.' Previously, the Campaign for the Defense of Political and Civil Prisoners reported that the 'Romano' restaurant in Saqez was closed on May 5 by the Places Supervision Administration of the Saqez Police Command due to 'improper hijab,' resulting in 50 people losing their jobs. In a statement released by the management of the Romano restaurant, it was stated that the restaurant was closed until further notice due to non-compliance with the trade law and public place regulations. According to this campaign, the closure of the Romano restaurant, a popular tourist spot in Saqez and a venue for promoting Kurdish music and poetry, provoked multiple reactions. The 'EcoCamp Dorna' tourism complex in Meshkinshahr, Ardabil province, was also closed. A notice posted at the entrance of this complex cited 'non-compliance with Islamic standards' as the reason for the closure. The intensification of the closure of establishments and restaurants occurs while the beating of citizens by agents enforcing the 'Noor Plan' continues in the streets. Human rights activist Hossein Ronaghi posted on X about the beating of a teenage girl, stating: 'A few shameless agents attacked a little girl in Borujerd under the pretext of hijab, bringing her to the brink of stroke and death; this behavior is intolerable.' Hassan Ronaghi continued in his message that 'they have targeted women and launched a full-scale war against them,' emphasizing that 'the issue is not hijab; what is happening is the humiliation of all citizens with a focus on women.' The strict enforcement of mandatory hijab regulations in Iran intensified after the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police and subsequent nationwide protests. Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, on Wednesday, April 11, 2023, in his Eid al-Fitr prayer speech, issued a new command to the 'promoters of virtue,' whom he had previously described as 'fire at will,' urging them to 'confront religious violations.' Hours after Khamenei's order, the police announced that they would implement a plan to combat women's optional dress starting Saturday, April 13. Since that day, the Islamic Republic has deployed its government forces and plainclothes agents in the streets of various Iranian cities under the 'Noor Plan,' but despite widespread arrests, civil resistance continues. The intensification of strictness regarding mandatory hijab has been met with widespread criticism from human rights organizations. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom also issued a statement in May, referring to the increasing repression of women and girls in Iran due to 'defiance' of mandatory hijab laws, calling for more sanctions against Islamic Republic officials, including security officials. Yekta Fahendj, a Baha'i citizen, was released from prison after posting bail. The gold market strike continues; the conflict between goldsmiths and the government persists. Operators of several Instagram pages related to hairdressing in Zanjan were summoned; the crackdown on individual freedoms in Iran intensifies. American senators commented on the continued repression of women in Iran: the Islamic Republic is a 'terrible' government. Amnesty International: The Islamic Republic should end its 'war against women' in Iran and abolish mandatory hijab. Officials are engaged in 'concerns' about hijab; Radan thanked Raisi, Saidi thanked Radan. Exclusive: A narrative from a police officer: they are filming us in the 'Noor Plan'; Fariborz Karami-Zand: they are afraid of 'rebellion.'