Violation of Women's Dress Freedom with the Return of 'Murder Patrol'; A Journalist's Account of 'Sexual Assault' in Detention

Simultaneously with the Islamic Republic's attack on Israel, pressures on women inside the country and violations of the individual and social freedoms of half of Iran's population have intensified with the return of the morality police under the guise of the 'Noor Plan.' On Monday, April 17, multiple accounts of violence by government agents against women due to civil disobedience against mandatory hijab and the right to choose their attire were published. One of these accounts is from Dina Ghalibaf, a journalist, who announced on social media platform X that she was arrested by police officers on Sunday and was violently taken 'from the metro police room to another room' where she was 'shocked.' According to Dina Ghalibaf, 'the entire time' her hands were 'handcuffed, and one of the officers sexually assaulted her.' She also emphasized using the hashtag 'Murder Patrol,' stating: 'A police officer came and dragged his hand across my face while my hands were tied and started caressing my face.' Ali Mojtahedzadeh, a lawyer, also wrote about his observations: 'In Golbandak Square next to the Tehran Prosecutor's Office, a woman was beaten and verbally abused by a male police officer for her hijab and thrown into the morality patrol van.' Atefeh Mahmoudi, a journalist, also shared her account of her arrest by the 'morality patrol,' stating that 'a white unmarked van' surrounded her with 'two female officers and a soldier who was the driver,' 'three motorcycles each with two male officers,' and 'a car with two male officers.' She emphasized that aside from the van driver, '10 officers lined up for me as if they wanted to capture a dangerous criminal.' This journalist stressed that 'they treated the arrested women with harsh language,' adding: 'In protest of where they were taking me and what this behavior was, one of them responded with insults, and while I told the officers that 'no law has been passed yet,' they dealt with me with 'shouting' and 'threats,' saying 'I'll keep you here until you learn not to talk back!' Atefeh Mahmoudi added that she was eventually released after signing a commitment. Javad Heydarian, another journalist, published his personal account of the vehicle confiscation due to hijab. According to this journalist, 'there are parking spaces available, but they say there is no space,' and this issue is likely related to 'transfer costs' and 'financial exchanges between officials from the police to the tow truck and parking.' Javad Heydarian stated that the police responsible for the task told him, 'I'll make sure you get your car back quickly,' adding that 'the process seems prone to violations and corruption,' and that he might 'have to bribe someone to get things moving.' The account of the legal advisors group on X also referred to 'the arrest and deprivation of freedom of about 500 women and girls' on Saturday, April 15, coinciding with the first day of implementing the 'Noor Plan,' quoting Ali Khaleqi, a lawyer, who wrote: 'According to the constitution, no one can be arrested except by the order and procedure prescribed by law, and if legal procedures are not followed, the arresting officer is punishable.' Mohsen Barahani, a lawyer, also emphasized that police officers 'have no legal right to transfer women without hijab to their headquarters and stations,' stating that 'keeping women and girls against their will in these places constitutes the crime of illegal detention, punishable by one to three years in prison under Article 583 of the Penal Code.' On social media, images of female students lining up at the entrance of Alzahra University to pass through a 'facial recognition gate' have been published. The account 'Women's Revolution' on X, which advocates for women's rights, condemned 'this action by the Alzahra University security,' emphasizing that 'students can overcome motorcycle patrols, plainclothes officers, Basij members, hijab enforcers, and security agents through greater organization and nationwide unity.' Moein Khazaeli, a lawyer, previously told Voice of America that there is no law in Iran that allows the police to enforce mandatory hijab.