Hijab Torture: Stories of Imposition and Humiliation

It has been 17 months since Mahsa Amini died in the custody of the notorious Molarity Police, sparking months of nationwide protests.

However, the authorities continue to coerce women into wearing the mandatory hijab. 

A video circulating on social media shows a woman on a busy street next to a van bearing the insignia of the Morality Police.

Three chador-clad women pin her against the van's hood, while two of them strike her head with their hands and the third tightly grips her clothes from behind. 

Eventually, the female officers, aided by a male officer in plainclothes, force the woman into the van. 

A policeman and two police officers accompany them as the van drives away.

The clip was purportedly shot in Tehran on February 14.

The fate of the woman remains unknown.

Meanwhile, Sepideh Rasho, a young writer was sentenced to three years and 11 months in prison for her activism against the mandatory hijab.

In a poignant video montage shared on her Instagram page, she describes the pain of being separated from her family and friends.

Tehran: A Lesson for Others

A lawyer finds herself embroiled in a trial after receiving a text message regarding hijab regulations and having her car impounded.

This female lawyer, whose identity remains undisclosed for security reasons, was summoned to appear before Branch 1088 of the Morality Court last summer. 

The charge levied against her was "removing hijab in the car." 

In a peculiar ruling, the judge ordered the lawyer to pay a fine, suspended her driving license for a period of two years and impounded her vehicle for six months. 

She was also barred from practicing law for two years.

Karaj: Coercion on the Streets

A woman living with a visible disability in Karaj recounted an unsettling encounter to IranWire.

She said that while waiting for a bus some time ago, her headscarf slipped and fell. Without warning, two male officers in plainclothes approached her aggressively and berated her for not wearing her hijab. 

The situation escalated as two more individuals joined in, followed by two other women.

"Their demeanor was truly terrifying, repulsive and intimidating. I was rendered speechless and unable to defend myself," the woman said.

Rasht: Villages Are Not Sanctuaries

Numerous accounts have surfaced regarding government informants reporting instances of non-compliance with hijab regulations. 

A young woman in Rasht told IranWire she found herself ensnared in the judicial system after receiving a hijab-related text message, thanks to one of these informants.

"I've received countless text messages, even in the tiniest mountain villages. It's astounding how relentless their harassment has become," she said. 

"Even restaurants and cafes are no longer accessible. Engaging in administrative tasks has become exceedingly challenging, with a multitude of penalties looming over every transgression."

Shiraz: They Seized My Coaching License

Another woman, a driving instructor in Shiraz, told IranWire, "Once, while teaching, a student's headscarf slipped off. We were stopped by a car, and they hurled insults, threats, and filmed us.”

"As a result, my coaching license was revoked for 20 days. The same fate befell my daughter. Every day, she leaves the house with anxiety, knowing the risks of going out without a hijab. 

"By the time she returns home, I'm a wreck with worry."

Qazvin: Provoking Conflict Over Hijab

A young woman, who visited a historical site in Qazvin a few weeks ago, recounted to IranWire an unsettling encounter with two veiled women who warned her and other women about hijab.

"I chose to ignore them, but…they kept turning around.

"I noticed several groups of anxious women who seemed to take heed. Eventually, a dispute erupted when a young girl became upset and argued with the veiled women. 

"Her family intervened and forcibly pulled her away. One of the veiled women seemed willing to initiate a physical altercation with the girl. 

"A bystander called the police, prompting the veiled woman to leave."

Isfahan: It's Your Fault if We Were Sealed

Reports received by IranWire indicate that hijab rules are sometimes enforced by ordinary citizens.

A young woman living in Isfahan recounted her experience while entering restaurants and cafes in the city center. 

"I had a particularly unpleasant experience last month when a hostess implied, in a blaming manner, that they had been closed once because of people like me, as if nothing else was happening in the country.

"It's akin to the daily violence and harassment we witness on the streets. Just as being touched inappropriately in public can leave us upset for hours or days, encounters like these also deeply affect us."