The Criminal Court of Tehran has handed down a 10-day prison sentence to renowned Iranian actor Shaghayegh Dehghan for “appearing in public streets without wearing a religious hijab,” or headscarf.
Dehghan chose to pay a fine of 15 million rials ($30) instead of serving the prison term.
Her lawyer, Kaveh Rad, said that the case was initiated by a complaint filed by the Public Security Police.
On May 13, Tehran’s Culture and Media Prosecutor’s Office accused Dehghan of “offending public modesty through the publication of a picture without a hijab on the internet.” The accused was released on bail.
Iranian authorities are cracking down on violators of the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code following months of unrest sparked by the September death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in police custody. Amini had been detained allegedly wearing a head covering improperly.
All women in Iran must conceal their hair with a headscarf and wear loose fitting trousers under their coats while in public.
But a growing number of women, including actors such as Taraneh Alidoosti, Ketayoun Riahi, Panthea Bahram and Baran Kowsari, have appeared in public without hijab since Amini’s death.
Some defiant women were arrested, summoned by the authorities and faced legal cases, while hundreds of small businesses and shopping malls were shut down for allegedly failing to enforce hijab rules on their customers. Taxi drivers have been fined for transporting women without headscarves, while police and volunteers have issued warnings in subways, airports and other public places.
Source » shabtabnews