Country: Iran
ICHR strongly opposes the obligatory hijab and calls on the government of Iran to stop harassing women, and abolish all discriminatory laws effective immediately.
Iranian police are using text messaging to warn female drivers and passengers whom are ignoring their hijab (scarves) or ignore the Islamic discriminatory dress code while driving in cars, or parked.
Hundreds of women in the capital city of Tehran recently received phone text messages, summoning them to the “Morality Police” station. After days of uncertainty about the origin of the messages, finally police announced the messages are official warnings.
The women are accused of violating the Islamic discriminatory dress code, including the removal of their scarves while driving a vehicle.
Those who are summoned will be released after committing themselves in writing that they will not repeat the offense,” the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Brigadier General Hossein Rahimi announced on Thursday evening, April 25. Should the offense be repeated, the accused will be charged and referred to a court of law.
On Thursday, hundreds of women accused of driving without hijab were rushed to the “Morality Police” headquarters in Tehran to inquire about the texts.
Drivers of vehicles are responsible for their passengers, and should not allow them to ride in their cars without proper hijab, IRGC General has firmly insisted on it.
In recent years law enforcement officials have detained tens of thousands of vehicles for carrying female drivers or passengers who had removed their scarves or rejected the Islamic discriminatory dress code in other ways.
Using mobile phone text messaging to warn female drivers and passengers whom violate the compulsory hijab laws and discriminatory dress code in Tehran, started in November 2017.
Theran’s prosecutor said. “The move is aimed at reducing traffic accidents in Tehran.” The reference to accidents means that women without hijab distract other drivers, according to discriminatory laws of Iranian Government enforcement.
“Forcing women to have hijab even in their own private spaces is simply invasion of privacy and violation of human rights, and must be ended immediately.” Said Ardeshir Zarezadeh, Executive Director for Iran, and The Middle East at ICHR Canada.
ICHR strongly opposes the obligatory hijab and calls on the government of Iran to stop harassing women, and abolish all discriminatory laws effective immediately.