Iran uses citywide surveillance to enforce hijab law

Iran has launched video surveillance in several major cities to monitor compliance with its mandatory hijab law, according to media reports. The surveillance had been introduced in the capital, Tehran, as well as major cities like Isfahan and Shiraz. Women seen in public without the compulsory hijab reportedly received warnings via text message. Previously, video […]

Iran has launched video surveillance in several major cities to monitor compliance with its mandatory hijab law, according to media reports.

The surveillance had been introduced in the capital, Tehran, as well as major cities like Isfahan and Shiraz.

Women seen in public without the compulsory hijab reportedly received warnings via text message. Previously, video surveillance was mainly used for traffic monitoring.

It remains unclear which government agency or official authorised the expanded surveillance. In an interview with local media, Iran’s Vice President Zahra Behrouz pledged to investigate.

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“We are working to clarify where these SMS messages originate, what their purpose is, and the legal basis for their issuance.

“The development comes as growing numbers of women in Iran’s urban centres openly ignore the Islamic dress code, often as a form of protest and a statement of self-determination,” she said.

This shift in public behaviour was spurred by the 2022 nationwide protests under the slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom.”

While President Masoud Pezeshkian, who took office in mid-2024, had promised a more pragmatic approach to societal issues, he had not proposed repealing the mandatory hijab law. (dpa/NAN)