Judiciary Forms Case Against Female Employees of Digikala for Hijab Violations

On Saturday, July 31, the Judiciary News Agency reported the formation of a "judicial case regarding the non-compliance with hijab by female employees of one of the sections of Digikala." According to Mizan, "Following the publication of images on social media attributed to employees of one of the sections of Digikala indicating non-compliance with hijab by female employees in the workplace, a judicial case has been formed in this regard." The report did not provide further details, including the number of women for whom judicial cases have been formed. In the wake of nationwide protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police, an increasing number of girls and women, including actresses and athletes, have removed their headscarves as a sign of opposition. Additionally, see: Open Iran Database: 86% of women went out without mandatory hijab in 2023. In this context, the Islamic Republic has made significant efforts in recent months to prevent civil disobedience by women through heavy judicial sentences. Nevertheless, Mousa Ghazanfari Abadi, head of the Judicial and Legal Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, stated in an interview with Rouydad 24 that he firmly believes that the phenomenon of "unveiling" will be eradicated in the country for two reasons: cultural work and punishment. However, images and videos published on social media indicate that girls and women continue to oppose the mandatory hijab desired by the Islamic Republic. In this regard, Javaid Rahman, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, stated last Friday that the return of the morality police aims to "further violate the rights of women through mandatory hijab." He noted that currently, "the worst human rights violations are being implemented in Iran," adding, "Women and girls in Iran face the worst violations of their fundamental rights, which I call gender discrimination." He referred to the death of Mahsa (Jina) Amini in the custody of the morality police as "an example of the deplorable situation of women and girls in Iran," and criticized the mandatory hijab law as "full of violence, brutality, and a violation of dignity and human rights." From the closure of venues to the arrest and sentencing of women; the government's efforts to impose mandatory hijab continue. A silent march in Zahedan; Molavi Abdolhamid did not remain silent about the imposition of mandatory hijab. Narges Mohammadi: Women's defiance will break the authoritarian power of the religious government. Mehdi Ghalian: Sepideh appeared in court without a headscarf and chador. Beating of tourists in the "Opert" resort by agents; eyewitness: They said to hand over the drinks. Head of the Judicial and Legal Commission: We will eradicate the phenomenon of "unveiling" through punishment and cultural discussions.