The Hijab Remains an Excuse for Regime Control, Suppressing Dissent and Sustaining Power
The Repressive Hijab Crackdown Continues, with the State Security Force Linking all CCTV Cameras.
A member of the mullahs’ parliament has declared that all CCTV cameras in both government and private offices will be linked to the State Security Force (SSF). This move aims to facilitate the thorough identification of women who remove their hijab in public spaces.
Amirhossein Bankipour, a member of the regime’s parliament, made this announcement regarding the Hijab and Chastity Bill.
During a speech covered by the state-run media, Amirhossein Bankipour stated: “Our cultural solution in this bill is long-term, while our economic solutions serve as mid-term auxiliary measures. We have categorized the punishments accordingly. The lowest tier of punishment involves fining passers-by and individuals who remove their hijab in virtual spaces.
“For a first offense of hijab removal, a suspended fine of one and a half million Tomans is imposed. Upon a second offense captured by the cameras, the fine increases to 3 million Tomans, in addition to the initial 1.5 million, totaling 4.5 million Tomans. This fine must be settled within three weeks. To ensure complete identification of individuals, all CCTV cameras in stores and offices will be linked to the SSF.” (The state-run Entekhab.ir website, May 5, 2024)
He further added, “Under the Hijab and Chastity Law, we have stipulated that all government and private institutions must make their CCTV cameras available to the SSF. In this legislation, the Ministry of Industries, Mines, and Trade, the Ministry of Economy, and the municipalities shoulder the greatest responsibility.”
During his remarks, Bankipour explicitly stated that their “ultimate objective” is to “ensure the security of cities.”
Bankipour emphasized, “The Guidance Patrols and the Noor (Light) Plan will continue to be enforced as per the previous law. Once the Hijab and Chastity bill comes into effect, the SSF will have significantly expanded authority.”
He stated, “To guarantee the comprehensive security of our cities, we have stipulated in this law that all systems must provide their CCTV cameras to the SSF. This ensures that all types of crimes, ranging from theft to various other issues, can be effectively monitored by the SSF. Additionally, we are enhancing the capabilities of the SSF by equipping it with additional cameras.” (The state-run Khabaronline.ir, May 5, 2024)
Like the previous year, the clerical regime has failed in its brutal campaign to impose hijab on Iranian women and girls. The State Security Force (SSF) command of the regime’s oppressive police force had already announced on April 23rd that the “Light Plan” will transition towards AI-driven methods.
The NCRI Women’s Committee strongly condemns the desperate attempts of the clerical regime to suppress women, under the guise of combating improper veiling, in a bid to thwart potential uprisings. We call upon human rights defenders and advocates for women’s rights to denounce the atrocities committed by the clerical regime and to advocate for its exclusion from the international community.
