Islamic Republic Claims Arrest of Woman Opposing Mandatory Hijab Involved Throwing 'Hot Nescafe' at Officers

Following widespread reactions to the violent encounter between police officers and a woman opposing the mandatory hijab in Tehran, who was wrapped in a blanket, the Islamic Republic's police claimed that the detained individual threw 'hot Nescafe' at female officers. The Tehran Police's Public Relations Center (FATA) stated in a press release on Thursday, May 17, that a young woman was walking without a hijab on May 13 on Motahari Street and, after being 'warned' by the 'special enforcement unit of the Noor plan,' she 'violated norms' by 'throwing the hot contents of a cup (of Nescafe) at the officers' and attempted to 'escape.' The 'Noor plan' is a scheme through which the police suppress opponents of the mandatory hijab. The FATA claimed that the detained woman 'confessed' to throwing the hot contents at the officers inside the van. However, in a fragmented video released by this agency, the conversations between the detained woman and the female officer in the police van were silent, and the content was unclear. The violent encounter between the police officers and the woman, which resulted in part of her body being exposed, led the officers to wrap her in a blanket and forcibly take her into the 'Guidance Patrol' van. Ahmad Vahidi, the Minister of Interior of the Islamic Republic, defended the actions of the police officers, claiming that the detained woman 'had exposed herself.' Several critics refuted Ahmad Vahidi's claim based on the released images. Journalist Yaghma Fashakhami wrote: 'The images clearly show the state of this woman's attire.' Mohsen Barahani, a legal scholar and faculty member at the University of Tehran, addressed Ahmad Vahidi, stating that 'unfortunately or fortunately, we are not blind and we see.' He emphasized that we understand the difference between 'self-exposure,' 'exposure by another,' and 'exposure during a struggle.' Published images of government officers' encounters with women opposing the mandatory hijab, especially in recent weeks, indicate beatings and severe violence against hijab opponents. On the other hand, the police's use of drones in Kish Island for greater control over citizens' attire indicates the Iranian government's comprehensive efforts to combat supporters of optional dress. The Mehr News Agency introduced this action as 'executing the Noor plan with aerial monitoring in Kish.' The intensification of strict measures regarding the mandatory hijab has been accompanied by widespread criticism from human rights organizations. Among them, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom also called for more sanctions against Islamic Republic officials, including security officials, in a statement in May, referring to the increasing repression of women and girls in Iran due to 'defiance' of mandatory hijab laws. The Minister of Interior's defense of the violent behaviors of the 'Noor plan' officers; the police acted according to regulations. Zahra Rahnavard described the mandatory hijab in Iran as a 'dictatorial order' and 'made-up.' Security crisis in Iran; gun violence in Tehran, knife violence in Delfan, police fighting against women. Mandatory hijab; reactions to the beating and injury of women by officers: the repetition of violence indicates it is not an individual error.