Iran reimposes the wearing of the veil

Iranian police will begin implementing a plan to reimpose the veil on women this Saturday with the help of cameras, while student groups have announced protests to show their rejection of the imposition of the garment.

"The implementation of the veil and chastity plan will begin tomorrow," Iranian police chief Ahmad Reza Radan said on Friday, according to the daily Hammihan.

The head of the Persian police force assured that "cameras will not make mistakes" when it comes to identifying women who do not cover themselves with a veil, a compulsory garment in Iran since 1983. 

Iranian police announced a week ago that they would use cameras and smart tools to identify women who do not wear the hijab. 

Women identified as unveiled will receive a text message informing them of the infraction. Repeat offences will result in charges being brought against them and they will have to appear in court. 

The law punishes women who do not cover themselves with a veil with fines and up to two months' imprisonment, but the authorities are also considering other options such as deprivation of banking services.

The authorities have also warned shops and restaurants not to serve uncovered women and have already closed many businesses for this reason.

The Ministries of Education and Health announced earlier this month that unveiled students will not be allowed to attend universities and colleges.

Student organisations have announced that they will organise protests tomorrow to show their rejection of the imposition of the garment.  

"We must respond to the government's repressive measures with demonstrations, protests, sit-ins and graffiti on Saturday," several student organisations said in a statement.

Many Iranian women have stopped wearing the mandatory Islamic headscarf as a form of protest and civil disobedience since the death in September of Mahsa Amini after she was arrested for wearing the hijab incorrectly.

Amini's death sparked strong protests across the country calling for the end of the Islamic Republic, with universities, colleges and even schools playing an important role.

State repression led to the deaths of some 500 people in protests over Amini's death, the arrest of thousands and four protesters were hanged, one of them in public.