As the summer heat sets in, Iranian authorities have announced plans to deploy 7,000 police officers to the country’s northern coastal areas to strictly enforce mandatory hijab laws.
Deputy Police Commander Qasim Rezaei said on June 6 that both male and female travelers on beaches “must respect the law” regarding hijab.
The Islamic Republic’s dress codes require women to cover their hair and body.
“Anyone who does not follow the legal norms such as hijab is guilty of a crime,” Rezaei warned.
The massive police deployment comes as Iran’s government has recently escalated its long-standing enforcement of compulsory hijab under the new “Noor Plan.”
Despite the Islamic Republic’s increasing pressures, civil resistance by women opposed to mandatory dress codes has persisted, with videos surfacing daily of women appearing in public without hijabs.
The northern coastline is a popular summer destination for millions of Iranians due to its proximity to Tehran and scenic natural beauty.
The new crackdown comes almost two years after the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for her alleged “improper” hijab.
The death of 22-year-old Amini unleashed months of mass protests across Iran and marked the biggest challenge to the country’s clerical leaders since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
More than 500 people were killed as the Islamic Republic fought back against the protesters, who gained support from around the world.
In March, a fact-finding mission mandated by the United Nations said the death of Amini in the custody of Iran’s morality police was “unlawful,” and women in the country remain subject to wide-ranging discrimination.
Source » iranwire