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‘There’s no other option but to fight’: Iranian women defiant as ‘morality police’ return

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Summary

Recently, two veiled ‘morality police’ began to patrol the streets of Tehran, promoting the mandatory hijab law. This was met with dismay by Iranian activists, who plan to take to the streets again in protest in September 2022 to mark the one-year anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death. Women and girls are posting pictures and videos of themselves on social media defying the mandatory hijab law, and many are ready to continue the fight despite the threat of violence or arrest. Masih Alinejad, an Iranian journalist and activist, has been encouraging women to share pictures of themselves without a hijab, and many are still going out without a hijab despite the announcement. The morality police have been noting down the car number plates of women spotted without a hijab and taking their photos and IDs. Activists are ready to fight, stating that “there’s no other option but to fight”.

Q&As

What happened in Iran in September 2022 that led to the largest wave of popular unrest in years?
The death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old who had been detained for allegedly not properly wearing the Islamic headscarf, led to the largest wave of popular unrest in years in Iran.

What is the Gasht-e-Irshad?
The Gasht-e-Irshad (“morality police”) is the infamous police force in Iran that enforces strict hijab laws with multiple reports of violent arrests and detentions.

How have Iranian women responded to the return of the morality police?
Iranian women and girls have been posting pictures and videos of themselves on social media defying the mandatory hijab law and protesters have said they will not be dissuaded from taking to streets again.

What is the My Stealthy Freedom movement?
The My Stealthy Freedom movement is an online movement encouraging women to share pictures of themselves without a hijab, launched by Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad in 2014.

What actions have the morality police taken to enforce the hijab law?
The morality police have been patrolling the streets, noting down the car number plates of women spotted without a hijab, clicking pictures and videos of women without a hijab, and harshly asking women to wear a hijab.

AI Comments

👍 This article highlights the bravery of Iranian women standing up to oppressive regimes and fighting for their rights and freedom.

👎 The return of Iran's "morality police" has caused fear and anxiety among Iranian citizens who are facing harsh punishments for not following the mandated hijab law.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about the return of the morality police in Iran and how women are responding to the news. The article discusses how the police have been targeting women who don't wear the hijab properly and are now intensifying their repression and harassment. It also talks about how Mahsa Amini's death last September sparked a wave of protests and how more protests are planned for the anniversary of her death.

Friend: Wow, that's really concerning. It sounds like these women are going to face a lot of danger for standing up for their rights.

Me: Absolutely. They're already facing a lot of harassment and violence, and the situation is only getting worse. The article also mentioned how Iranian women have been posting pictures and videos of themselves on social media defying the mandatory hijab law, and that there are plans to organize more protests. It's a really inspiring story of courage and resilience in the face of oppression.

Action items

Educate yourself on the history of the Iranian women's rights movement and the current situation in Iran.
Reach out to Iranian women's rights activists and organizations to learn more about their work and how you can support them.
Donate to organizations that are working to advance the rights of Iranian women and girls, such as the Mahsa Amini Foundation or the My Stealthy Freedom campaign.

Technical terms

Gasht-e-Irshad (“morality police”): The morality police in Iran, responsible for enforcing the country's strict Islamic dress code.
Hijab: A headscarf worn by some Muslim women in public as a sign of modesty.
Mahsa Amini: A 22-year-old Iranian woman who died in custody in September 2022 after being detained for allegedly not properly wearing the Islamic headscarf.
Islamic Azad University: A private university system in Iran.
My Stealthy Freedom: An online movement encouraging women to share pictures of themselves without a hijab, launched by Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad in 2014.
Gender apartheid: A system of discrimination based on gender.
Chador: A full-body cloak worn by some Muslim women.