Pharmacy Quotas Tied to the Observance of the Mandatory Hijab
After the clerical regime failed to enforce the mandatory Hijab by the massive deployment of Guidance patrols and plainclothes agents in the streets and through violent and arbitrary arrests of women and girls, the Iranian regime is adopting new measures, while the Hijab and Chastity bill has not yet become a law.
Recent reports from state-run media indicate that the head of the Food and Drug Organization, affiliated with the Ministry of Health, has emphasized the role of mandatory hijab in determining pharmacy quotas. This new approach aims to link compliance with hijab norms to the allocation of pharmacy licenses.
According to Haidar Mohammadi, who spoke at the presidential communication center on May 5, pharmacies will be evaluated based on their adherence to hijab requirements. Non-compliance with mandatory hijab is considered an “abnormality,” and directly impacts the quota assigned to each pharmacy. Haidar Mohammadi said, “If a pharmacy does not comply with the norms, initially, it will be warned. If the warning has no effect, preventive measures will be implemented against the offending pharmacy. If the preventive measures are ineffective, the violators will be introduced to the legal authorities.
However, IRNA (the official news agency of the clerical regime) has denied Haidar Mohammadi’s statement, asserting that pharmacy quotas are determined based on their employees’ compliance with hijab, rather than customers.
Despite this denial, there are indications that some government institutions in Iran have closed pharmacies due to the non-observance of mandatory hijab by both employees and customers.
The Food and Drug Organization of Iran, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Health, plays a crucial role in shaping policies and programs related to pharmaceuticals, food, beverages, cosmetics, and medical supplies. In March 2023, the organization made it mandatory for all technical and non-technical employees to wear black head covers that conceal the hair, shoulders, and chest, known as Maghna’eh.
While the regime focuses on hijab compliance, patients in Iran continue to face challenges related to medicine shortages and high prices. Vital medications are sometimes only accessible through the black market, such as the Nasser Khosrow market in Tehran, where patients pay exorbitant prices for their much-needed drugs. Reports have also highlighted the closure of business premises, restaurants, cafes, and even pharmacies due to non-compliance with the mandatory hijab requirement.
