In response to a video circulating on social media showing a mourning procession in Karaj with women not wearing mandatory hijab, the police chief of Alborz province announced the 'identification and summoning' of these individuals. On Tuesday, July 26, coinciding with the Ashura ceremonies in Karaj, the video showed several girls participating in 'procession and chest-beating' without the mandatory hijab. This video has sparked widespread reactions on social media. Hamid Hadavand, the police chief of Alborz province, claimed that the release of these videos has led to 'hurt feelings among the mourners of Hosseini' across the country, stating that the police have prioritized following up on this issue. He accused these individuals of 'disrespect' and mentioned that 'all these individuals have been summoned to the police in Alborz after being identified.' He did not specify the number of those summoned or how they were identified by the police. Meanwhile, the head of the Religious Organizations and Associations announced that the permit for the mourning group that had taken to the streets in Karaj, which included girls without mandatory hijab, has been 'revoked.' Majid Babakhani also reported the 'summoning' of the head of this group with police assistance, stating that legal action would be taken against him. Last year during Muharram, there were also reports of the identification and arrest of women without mandatory hijab across the country. Following the protests after the death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini in police custody in September 2022 and the unprecedented presence of women without hijab in the streets, the police have intensified their actions against women and men supporting freedom of dress, frequently releasing reports and images of increased violence against detainees. In recent months, the police have launched a 'Noor Plan' aimed at reintroducing patrols to the streets of Iran, once again initiating violent and security measures against women opposing mandatory hijab in the streets. Previously, the Tehran municipality and the Ministry of Interior, in collaboration with organizations like the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, employed individuals as 'hijab monitors' at some metro stations, although the Minister of Interior and the Mayor of Tehran deny their involvement in this initiative. Despite these actions, the presence of women and girls without mandatory hijab in public places has not ceased over the past two years.
Identification and Summoning of Girls Without Mandatory Hijab in Mourning Procession
The police in Alborz province have identified and summoned girls who participated in a mourning procession without mandatory hijab, following a viral video. This incident has sparked significant social media backlash and reflects ongoing tensions surrounding hijab enforcement in Iran, especially after the protests following Mahsa Amini's death.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
In Karaj, during Ashura ceremonies, women were seen without mandatory hijab in a mourning procession, leading to their identification and summoning by local police. This incident has sparked significant social media reactions and reflects ongoing tensions over hijab enforcement in Iran.
- Women were seen without mandatory hijab during a public religious event.
- The police have prioritized identifying and summoning these women, citing disrespect.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The mandatory hijab law has been a contentious issue in Iran, especially following the death of Mahsa Amini, which led to widespread protests and calls for greater personal freedoms.
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%