Islamic Azad University Bans 'Casual Clothing in Public Dormitory Spaces'

Islamic Azad University has announced a ban on 'casual clothing, especially for women, under any circumstances in public dormitory spaces' while issuing guidelines on permissible and impermissible attire for students and faculty. According to Fars News Agency, the regulations prohibit 'thin and lace veils,' 'short, slit mantos,' 'hats without a scarf,' 'thin and short headscarves,' 'shawls,' 'skirts instead of pants for women except in special cases like illness or pregnancy,' and 'short, tight, stretchy pants or pants that are intentionally torn or patched.' The university has also banned makeup on the face and nails that 'attracts the attention of others' and 'excessive use of jewelry on the face (like nose or tooth gems), hands, and feet (ankle chains).' The guidelines state that men are also not allowed to have 'unconventional hairstyles like braids or spiky cuts that symbolize specific sects' and 'should not wear tight, form-fitting clothes with very short sleeves or deep necklines, shorts, casual wear, short-crotch pants, tight or thin pants, and pants that are intentionally torn or patched.' Men are also prohibited from wearing 'jewelry such as necklaces, chains, bracelets, and gold earrings, and are not allowed to have hairstyles like eyebrow plucking, highlights, and braiding.' The use of symbols from groups deemed 'deviant,' 'images of women,' 'absurd and meaningless images,' and 'ethnic and racial slogans' on clothing, wristbands, headbands, belts, rings, and bags is also banned. Following the 1979 Revolution and the imposition of compulsory hijab, similar regulations have been issued for the clothing of government employees and university staff. Last week, a gathering of several students at the Islamic Azad University in Sohaank, Tehran, made headlines as they protested the presence of morality police around the educational complex. A video from this gathering shows a morality police vehicle continuing to move despite a protesting female student standing in front of it and hanging onto it. In some released videos, this vehicle stops after a few seconds of movement, but ultimately no report has been published regarding the status of this girl. However, Hossein Rahimi, the commander of the Greater Tehran Police, stated that the police vehicle stopped after the student positioned herself in front of it. Since the enforcement of hijab in Iran, there have been various protests against this government action. A new wave of public protests against compulsory hijab began last December, and reports indicate that 40 women have been arrested in this context. Vida Mohammadi, Narges Hosseini, Azam Jangrooi, Shaparak Shajari Zadeh, and Maryam Shariatmadari are among the women who have been arrested and later released, with some sentenced to prison. In this context, the head of the Women's Faction of Parliament has called for a 'documented report on the performance of the morality police.' Setoudeh reported the arrest of a woman for protesting against the beating of a young girl by the 'morality police.' The Research Center of Parliament reported a 50% decrease in the number of individuals who consider hijab valuable. The Islamic Republic and the issue of women, the handling of 'guidance' in universities, severe government repression, and the danger of 'underground' protests are highlighted, along with accounts from doctors and eyewitnesses regarding the injured in protests.