Hijab warning by Basij agents sparks public outrage
Basij agents recently killed a female tourist in Shazdeh Mahan garden in Kerman, Iran. The reason behind this brutal act was the female tourist’s decision not to wear a hijab in public. The situation escalated quickly as people got angry and started throwing stones at the bus carrying the Basij agents.
The state-run media reported the incident, stating that the Basij agents had warned some visitors about the mandatory hijab rule before the altercation occurred. As a result of the ensuing clash, a 60-year-old woman suffered a cardiac arrest and died in the hospital. (The state-run Rouydad24.ir, April 23, 2023)
According to reports from citizens, a group of Basij agents who had visited the grave of Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the terrorist Quds Force who was killed in 2020, were involved in a violent altercation.
As per Ali Babaei, the governor of Kerman, the fight broke out between a group of travelers near Mahan, resulting in several injuries and the death of a 59-year-old woman. The governor attributed the cause of the conflict to “personal issues.” (The state-run ISNA news agency, April 23, 2023)
However, Mohammad Saberi, the head of the Kerman Emergency Medical Center, contradicted the governor’s statement by revealing that the woman was actually 72 years old and had undergone open heart surgery, as evidenced by the marks on her chest. (The state-run Jamarn.ir, April 23, 2023)
New measures to impose mandatory Hijab
Facing significant resistance from women to the new plan to impose the mandatory Hijab, the clerical regime has implemented several measures to increase pressure on women, such as restricting their access to business complexes, subways, banks, and airports without a hijab and sending warning messages to women who remove their Hijab.
Following the death of a female tourist in Kerman, the General Directorate of Museums issued a circular to the General Departments of Cultural Heritage of the provinces. The circular stated that the presence of women without observing the Islamic hijab is prohibited in museums. From the date of the circular’s notification, entry and presence without the Islamic hijab are banned in museums and collections governed by the Ministry of Culture. (The state-run Mehr news agency, April 24, 2023)
Despite previous announcements that the State Security Force (SSF) would refrain from physically confronting women on the streets and enforce the Hijab Law through digital systems, Mohammad Moussavian, Isfahan’s prosecutor, has made a new announcement. He stated that teams would be created to deal with women who remove their hijabs in public places following a tripartite memorandum of understanding between the Judiciary, the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), and the Headquarters for Enforcing Good and Prohibiting Evil. (The state-run Eghtesaad24.ir, April 21, 2023)
The clerical regime officially began dealing with Iranian women and girls who do not comply with the compulsory veiling dress code and the new Hijab Plan on April 15, 2023.
The SSF public relations announced that they would deploy CCTV cameras to identify the women who breach the Hijab law and avoid physical tension with them. After they have been identified, violators will receive “warning text messages as to the consequences.” (The state-run ISNA news agency, April 8, 2023)
Recent measures to impose the mandatory hijab have been met with protests by citizens and students.
