Tehran City Council: Hijab Monitors Operate Under the 'Metro Cultural Complex'

The spokesperson for the Tehran City Council stated that hijab monitors operate under the supervision of the 'Metro Cultural Complex', indirectly confirming the official status of these individuals in the metro. Mehdi Aghariyan mentioned to the 'Iran Watch' website that the responsibility for the presence of 'hijab monitors' and the photographing of women and girls falls under this cultural complex, adding that 'people's activities with any taste cannot occur in public places.' The 'Iran Watch' website reported that the debate over optional and mandatory hijab has reignited with the tunnel created by hijab monitors at the metro entrance. This issue has sparked protests from social activists and public reactions, leading Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi to state that 'no permit has been issued for the activities of hijab monitors.' However, this was only one side of the story, and since the metro is part of the Tehran Municipality, the reaction of Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani could clarify the situation. Zakani announced that 'hijab monitors spontaneously provide verbal warnings.' The Tehran Municipality and the Ministry of Interior's evasion of responsibility for ongoing events in the city has led to various reactions, culminating in the newspaper 'Etemad' publishing a 'confidential' letter indicating that all ongoing events in the realm of 'hijab and chastity' were directly ordered by the Interior Minister. Accordingly, part of the published document stated that owners and managers of recreational centers, malls, and large commercial centers are required to employ 'suitably qualified individuals' to prevent the entry of 'unveiled and norm-breaking individuals.' It was also mandated that images of 'norm-breakers' within the center be captured using installed cameras, and in the absence of cameras, agents should take photographs. Another part of this document emphasized that the 'Fara Ja Intelligence Organization, the IRGC Intelligence Organization, and the Ministry of Intelligence should extensively photograph, document, and verify the identities of those committing hijab violations and nudity as part of national plans and send the results immediately to Fara Ja or judicial authorities.' Today, however, the statements from the spokesperson for the Tehran City Council made it clear that hijab monitors are not operating without permission as the Interior Minister claimed, nor are they as spontaneous as the Tehran Mayor suggested. Previously, a responsible official in the 'Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Headquarters' had stated that these forces were trained by this headquarters, confirming their affiliation with government institutions. On the line: Government's 'fire at will' actions; this time in the name of hijab monitors. Technology serving repression; the Islamic Republic's use of smart facial recognition cameras. One month after the death of Armita Garavand; a member of parliament stated: hijab monitors should be stationed everywhere. The Deputy Mayor of Tehran regarding 'hijab monitors': Our goal is to remind and enforce hijab. Increasing criticism of the 'Tunnel of Terror' created by hijab monitors and the rejection of claims of their 'spontaneity.'