Mandatory Hijab; Reactions to the Beating of Women by Officers: Recurrence of Violence Indicates It's Not Just Individual Error

Violence by Islamic Republic officers against women in the streets of Iranian cities due to civil disobedience against mandatory hijab continues to make headlines; including the release of a video showing a police officer beating a woman, which has sparked reactions on social media. A video shared on social media shows the violent behavior of a police officer towards a woman, and while she says, 'Don't hit me, sir, my neck is broken,' he continues to assault her and violently throws her into a car. The release of this video and similar images of government forces' violence against women to enforce mandatory hijab has led to reactions on social media. Among them, Ali Karimi, a prominent figure in Iranian sports, shared this video and sarcastically referred to the Islamic Republic's propaganda about handling civil protests in the U.S., writing, 'What about these scenes? Did you see in America?!' In response to the release of this video and widespread criticism of the police officer's actions, the police information center stated that the 'offending officer' acted 'illegally and contrary to decorum,' but at the same time warned citizens 'like the detained woman' to 'comply with the law and the arrest order.' However, Ali Mojtahedzadeh, a lawyer, wrote on social media that 'given the recurrence and multiplicity of violent behaviors by guidance patrol agents towards citizens, one cannot consider the actions of the officers merely as individual errors and resolve the issue by punishing and suspending one or several officers.' This lawyer emphasized that 'the continuation of these behaviors could lead society towards violent confrontation between citizens and police.' While numerous images of violent confrontations between police forces and citizens, especially women and girls, are transmitted on social media daily, armed robbers are also active in cities, disrupting citizens' comfort and security. In this context, Alireza Vahabzadeh, a social journalist, shared an example, publishing an image of robbers in a house and wrote: 'Imagine sitting in your home in Tehran at seven in the evening, when several armed individuals enter your apartment, put a gun to your four-year-old daughter's head, take the earrings and gold from your wife and children, take the children's holiday money, and finally imprison them in a room and leave for the next house. Will this fear leave this child for the rest of her life?' In response to this news, one user on social media reminded that Ahmad Reza Radan, the commander of the Islamic Republic's police, 'goes from this province to that province' and, while giving speeches, 'holds a carnival in support of the guidance patrol 2,' and wrote that 'his time is full'; meanwhile, the Islamic Republic's state television also airs footage claiming 'police violence in America.' Another video report has also been published on social media showing government officers during the arrest of a woman who did not comply with the Islamic Republic's mandatory hijab, removing her clothes and another officer bringing a blanket from the police van to wrap around the woman to arrest her. The release of images of the violent behavior of Islamic Republic officials towards women, within the framework of the 'Noor Plan,' which began after a command from Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, and has been ongoing since April 14 across Iran, has also provoked reactions in international forums. Among them, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued a statement 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 the regime's intelligence officials. Previously, Voice of America reported in an exclusive story including the account of a police officer that Islamic Republic officials even film police officers during the implementation of the Noor Plan to prevent the spread of discontent and rebellion.