Trial of Woman Without Mandatory Hijab Who Confronted Harasser in the Street

The social media account of the "Iranian Women's Association" reported on the "trial" of "Roshank Molaei," a woman without a mandatory hijab who became newsworthy in recent weeks after a video of her confrontation with a harassing motorcyclist went viral. According to the report on Wednesday, November 30, her trial took place on Tuesday, November 29, and she participated in the session "online" via video conference. No further details have been released on this matter. Ms. Molaei, who had previously been reported to have been arrested after this confrontation, is currently detained in Qarchak Varamin prison. As the "Iranian Women's Association" noted, this woman, opposing mandatory hijab, had also been arrested during the protests of 2022. On November 10, 2023, a video of a woman confronting a harassing motorcyclist became viral on social media. The Greater Tehran Police Command confirmed the date of this harassment and stated that it occurred on Africa Street in Tehran. The woman's account on the X platform, which is now suspended, had published this video titled "A Scene of Being a Woman in Iran." While the police announced that after investigations, a case regarding "harassment of women" was formed and sent to judicial authorities for legal proceedings, no information has been released regarding the possible arrest of the motorcyclist. However, the reason for this young woman's arrest as a victim of harassment has not yet been disclosed, nor why she remains in custody. Following the protests in September 2022, which began after the death of Mahsa Zhina Amini in the custody of the morality police, women's open opposition to mandatory hijab has taken on new dimensions, and the government has resorted to more violent and repressive measures in this regard. Nevertheless, according to reports and images circulating on social media, despite the government's efforts, the Islamic Republic has not succeeded in controlling this open dissent.