The Activities of Guidance Patrols in Tehran Have Resumed

The activities of the police's guidance patrols aimed at 'dealing with improper dress and unveiling' resumed in Tehran on Saturday morning, April 28. News agencies Fars and ISNA reported that police patrols have been deployed in various parts of Tehran with the goal of 'addressing improper dress, unveiling inside vehicles, noise pollution, harassment of women, dog walking, and...' In this new round of activities, known as 'moral security patrols,' police officers confront individuals deemed 'norm violators' by stationing themselves in front of shopping malls, main squares, and patrolling busy highways and streets. ISNA reported that on Saturday, police seized the vehicles of some 'norm violators whose drivers or passengers had unveiled' and issued warnings to some individuals. According to the report, the actions of the moral security patrols were not limited to women with improper dress; they also dealt with boys and men wearing inappropriate clothing. Meanwhile, Fars news agency reported that police officers 'cautioned norm violators with authority, politeness, kindness, and Islamic compassion.' This news agency, close to the Revolutionary Guards, also noted that 'the vehicles of violators who ignored police warnings and insisted on their violations were seized and referred to judicial authorities.' Fars emphasized that the police will continue this initiative in the coming days. Major General Hossein Ashtari, the commander of the Islamic Republic's police, criticized the 'hijab situation of some drivers and passengers' last year and urged his officers to address these issues when observed. Such actions have consistently received support from some high-ranking officials of the Islamic Republic, including Sadegh Amoli Larijani, the head of Iran's judiciary. However, despite the repetition of this action, which usually begins with the onset of summer in Iran, especially in Tehran, it seems that the government's fight against what it calls 'improper dress and unveiling' has not made significant progress. In this context, the police stated that hijab and chastity are also not observed in Qom. The Tehran prosecutor has issued a judicial order to the police to deal with improper hijab. A survey indicated that 54% of the public do not consider hijab to be a chador. Gharshad, an application to avoid encounters with guidance patrols, has also emerged.