Several Mazandaran Citizens Arrested for 'Mocking' Mandatory Hijab

Several citizens from Mazandaran, including five Instagram page operators, were arrested on charges of 'creating content mocking mandatory hijab.' According to the news agency of human rights activists in Iran, Hrana, the 'business locations of these individuals, including women's beauty salons and sports clubs,' were simultaneously shut down by the Mazandaran provincial authorities. Additionally, the content of the detainees' social media pages was deleted by the Cyber Police of Mazandaran, and their pages were blocked. Besides these five individuals, 'other collaborators and associates' were also arrested and handed over to judicial authorities. No information has been released regarding the number of these individuals or the identities of the detainees. The Islamic Republic's crackdown on optional hijab comes as a controversial 'Chastity and Hijab' bill was assigned for 'immediate' review and approval by a joint committee following a proposal from several representatives, and if approved in this committee, it will be sent to the Guardian Council without a vote in the Islamic Consultative Assembly. Furthermore, the Islamic Republic has recently expanded its fight against optional hijab to include the closure of businesses and even online sales companies and cultural and artistic platforms. The death of Zhina (Mahsa) Amini while in custody of the morality police for allegedly not adhering to hijab regulations last September sparked unprecedented protests across Iran, resulting in the deaths of over 500 people, thousands injured, and more than 20,000 arrests due to the crackdown by the Islamic Republic's security forces. A member of the Legal and Judicial Commission of the Parliament stated: 'If the hijab bill is not approved, a flood will sweep us away.' An assistant to Raisi stated: 'I was not allowed to attend the trial of Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi.' The imposition of a cost of 57 billion tomans for hiring 'hijab monitors' in Tehran's subways. In response to Raisi's 'threats' regarding hijab, the U.S. stated: 'The choice of clothing is a personal right.' Raisi declared: 'The display of unveiled women will be eradicated'; users responded: 'Her entire being is stained with the blood of the people.'