Khamenei's Order to 'Fire at Will' Activists: Address Religious Norm Violations

In recent days, criticism of the actions of religious 'self-appointed' forces affiliated with the government has peaked. Ali Khamenei issued a new order to the 'commanders of virtue' whom he previously described as 'fire at will' activists, instructing them to 'address religious norm violations.' On Wednesday, April 22, during part of his Eid al-Fitr sermon at Tehran's Mosalla, Khamenei stated that 'the Islamic Republic does not intend to force anyone to be religious,' but officials, relevant agencies, and the public 'must address religious norm violations.' Political analysts believe Khamenei's emphasis on the necessity for 'commanders of virtue' to confront 'norm violations' is significant, especially as the Attorney General emphasized the day before that the law 'supporting the commanders of virtue and forbidders of vice' is a very good law that must be fully implemented. Mohammad Kazem Mohammadi-Azad identified hijab as the main challenge facing the country, stating that 'the plot to unveil is one of the enemy's schemes that seeks to portray hijab as an obstacle to women's progress and success.' Mohammadi-Azad asserted that 'commanding virtue verbally is not only the right of the people but is sometimes an obligation, and we are determined to demand the implementation of this law at all levels in relevant organizations and institutions.' This approach by Khamenei and the government comes at a time when reports in the media and images shared on social networks indicate public resistance against the 'fire at will' activists, leading to an increase in reported 'conflicts.' In recent days and weeks, police, judicial, and security confrontations with the public and businesses under the pretext of 'norm violations' have reached a peak, with no day passing without news of a business being shut down or citizens being arrested under various pretexts labeled as 'norm violations.' Concurrently with the back-and-forth of the hijab bill in Parliament, Mohseni Ejei stated that the situation regarding chastity and hijab is 'not good.' The police in Isfahan reported the arrest of 'those involved in the assault on a commander of virtue' and the closure of a business unit. The judiciary in Hamedan and Isfahan is pursuing the assailants of 'commanders of virtue,' indicating an increase in public resistance against the 'fire at will' activists. The approval of the 'regulations for enhancing professional ethics in the administrative system' has made commanding virtue mandatory for employees.