On the First Working Day of Pezeshkian, Domestic Media Announce Start of Crackdown on Men's Attire; 'Shorts' Banned

On August 1, Iranian media reported the initiation of a crackdown on men's clothing across Iran, coinciding with the first official working day of Masoud Pezeshkian as the head of the fourteenth government of the Islamic Republic. The daily Ham-Mihan cited several men residing in Tehran, stating that government agents have intensified pressure to arrest men under the pretext of their attire, especially after Pezeshkian was appointed to succeed Ebrahim Raisi. According to the report, men wearing 'shorts' have been arrested by government agents and transferred to police stations in vehicles separate from women, with some having legal cases opened against them. Ham-Mihan also reported eyewitness accounts indicating that patrol officers have warned some men about their clothing and hairstyles, and in some cases, have resorted to physical confrontations. The Islamic Republic's Law Enforcement Command (FARAJA) announced at the beginning of the year 1403 that starting from Saturday, April 14, it would combat what the government calls 'bad hijab' in a plan named 'Noor.' This plan was vigorously implemented until late June, with various reports of clashes between government agents and the public, especially women, circulating on social media. Following the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash and the onset of the 'government's electoral display,' confrontations decreased but did not cease. During the electoral competition, Masoud Pezeshkian repeatedly claimed he would end this crackdown in the streets; however, the report from Ham-Mihan indicates that contrary to his electoral promises and despite months of no actions against 'badly dressed men,' police and government agents have once again entered the fray, targeting not only women but also men's attire. Support from boys for protests against compulsory hijab by wearing shorts in Tehran and Kerman, the government's insistence on enforcing 'compulsory hijab'; a police official stated that the change of government would not affect the implementation of the 'Noor' plan. An Associated Press report noted that the 'elections' have heightened tensions over compulsory hijab. The morality police continue to patrol the streets; no government election candidate is willing to defend it. Sediqeh Vosoughi stated that compulsory hijab is a futile political game that women will end with their resistance. Reporters Without Borders announced the launch of a new campaign for the freedom of Narges Mohammadi. Fines for men's bad attire range from 6 million to 50 million tomans.