825 Women Convicted and Unjustly Sentenced
The spokesperson of the Iranian judiciary recently reported a concerning trend in the first four months of the Persian year (March 21 to July 22). During this period, a total of 2,251 cases were filed against women removing their Hijabs. Out of these cases, 825 resulted in convictions, according to Massoud Setayeshi, who responded to the state-run Fars news agency.
Setayeshi explained the consequences of such actions based on Article 638 of the Islamic Penal Code. He stated that those who remove their headscarves would be directly taken to court. A first-time offense would lead to a fine of 15 million Rials, while repeat offenders would face additional punishments along with the fine. Notably, if the accused is a famous person or a celebrity, they may be subjected to supplementary penalties, which are also publicly reported through media channels. (The state-run Fars news agency, August 2, 2023)
In a separate development, the General Justice Department of Qazvin province revealed that 123 instances of people wearing hijabs were captured by smart surveillance systems and public reports in public thoroughfares. Additional identification documents, including images from citywide cameras or submitted by individuals, are currently with the IRGC Intelligence Organization. After proper identification, the results will be made public, and court cases will be initiated for summons and potential criminal prosecution, as stated by the state-run ILNA news agency on August 2, 2023.
Bracing for the Uprising Anniversary
With the approaching anniversary of the Iran uprising on September 16, 2022, the clerical regime is making efforts to escalate repression in an attempt to prevent the upcoming protests. The crackdown on women under the pretext of the compulsory Hijab, along with widespread arrests and the imposition of heavy sentences for protesters and activists, are integral parts of the regime’s general roadmap to maintain its grip on power at any cost.
