Thirteen Businesses in Golbahar County Closed for Non-Compliance with Mandatory Hijab

Thirteen businesses in Golbahar County, located in Razavi Khorasan Province, were closed for reasons including non-compliance with mandatory hijab laws. According to the Islamic Republic's state news agency, the police chief of Golbahar claimed that 'business violations, health violations, operating without a license, and failure to observe modesty and hijab are among the reasons for the closure of these units.' Mohsen Sabri Pour stated that these businesses were 'closed by public security police.' Earlier reports from various cities indicated an increase in the closure of popular venues and restaurants under the pretext of non-compliance with the mandatory hijab laws set by the Islamic Republic, with these closures being announced to the public through the official accounts of these establishments. Following the protests over the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the 'Guidance Patrol' in September 2022, a significant number of Iranian girls and women have opted for optional dress. In this context, despite the Islamic Republic employing all governmental resources to enforce mandatory hijab on citizens, it continues to face civil disobedience from women demanding optional dress, and the government's efforts have so far been unsuccessful. There was also an attack by agents on the Goethe Language Institute; according to Fariborz Sarami, this institute has branches in 98 countries and is independent. A new video of Nika Shakeri, who has become a model, has been released. The United Nations has declared the beating of Narges Mohammadi and other women in Evin Prison as a form of 'torture.'