Return to 'Fundamental Settings'; Tone of Islamic Republic Officials on 'Mandatory Hijab' Changed After Elections

Officials of the Islamic Republic, one week after the 'elections' and widespread boycott by the people, emphasized the necessity of adhering to 'mandatory hijab' in Iran with a threatening tone, coinciding with International Women's Day. The Minister of Interior stated at a ceremony honoring 'promoters of virtue and preventers of vice' that 'our hijab culture is in opposition to the decayed and vulgar Western culture,' adding that 'enemies want to forcibly impose unveiled women on the Iranian nation, so we must not be passive regarding hijab and must stand against unveiled women.' Ahmad Vahidi described unveiling as a 'crime' and stated that 'promoting virtue and preventing vice does not require permission because it is both legal and religious.' Mohammad Ali Jafari, commander of the Baqiyatollah Headquarters of the Revolutionary Guards, emphasized that non-compliance with mandatory hijab 'could undermine the roots of the revolution,' stating that the activities of virtue promoters will not only continue in the Tehran City Theater metro but will also expand to other metro stations to quickly neutralize the unrest of unveiling. The representative of Ali Khamenei in Mazandaran province considered mandatory hijab a 'sacred duty' and complained about 'tolerance towards unveiling' in hospitals, adding that 'hijab regulations must be observed in all hospitals, operating rooms, and other health facilities.' Ahmad Alamolhoda, father-in-law of Ebrahim Raisi, who recently ranked third in the Assembly of Experts elections in Khorasan Razavi, described unveiling as the greatest poison of the enemy against religious values and called for considering 'unveiling' as a political crime. Alamolhoda expressed regret that the hijab bill is entangled in some 'governing sectors' and stated that under such circumstances, the people must take action themselves. Concurrently, Amir Hossein Bankipour, a representative from Isfahan in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, stated in a television program that according to a law that will be implemented after the New Year, a fine of 3 million tomans will be directly deducted from individuals' bank accounts for unveiling, and the heaviest penalties will be imposed on celebrities promoting unveiling, including being banned from travel and media appearances. On Friday, March 8, coinciding with International Women's Day, the Canadian government announced sanctions against Masoud Dorosti, CEO of the Tehran Metro, and Zahra Elhian, a member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, for their involvement in the repression of Iranian citizens, especially women and girls, stating: 'Our message to the leaders of the Islamic Republic is clear: brutal and violent tactics against women must end.' The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and European countries have imposed dozens of sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for repressing protesting Iranian citizens since the beginning of the protests known as 'Women, Life, Freedom.'