The morality police once again terrorise Iranian women
With the return of these patrols, responsible for the murder of Mahsa Amini, repression of women increases
The vans of the dreaded morality police are back on the streets of Iran. This return brings with it new arrests and disappearances, as well as more cries for help from women that have already been heard in some of the country's major cities. Fear and repression are not returning because they have never left this open-air prison that is the Islamic Republic of Iran. The authorities, following the directives of the supreme leader, Ali Khomenei, only continue with their work since 1979: to subjugate women and Islamise all aspects of society.
After months in the shadows - since it never disappeared - the Islamist authorities have announced the official return of the brutal morality police, responsible for the murder of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini for wearing the Islamic veil incorrectly. The protests triggered by the death of the young Kurdish woman were precisely the reason why Tehran announced the withdrawal of the force's patrols from the streets. However, it was only an attempt to calm the unstoppable revolution that, 10 months later, continues to rage, despite the regime's attempts to silence the public.
There was never any official confirmation that the morality police had ceased its activities. Nor was it dismantled. It only reduced its presence in order to silence both internal and external criticism. Yet another propaganda ploy by the ruthless regime. "The return of the moral police means that the Iranian government wants to show that it has neither failed nor abandoned its Islamic principles," says Iranian analyst Mehdi Dehnavi.
This fearsome police force, composed of both men and women, has never ceased to exist despite having reduced its presence on the streets. Nevertheless, repression and punishments against those who did not comply with the dress code continued. In fact, the authorities went so far as to install surveillance cameras to identify those who did not comply with the rules and those businesses that allowed uncovered women to enter. "All Islamist security forces are morality police. We have an armed army to punish us for demanding freedom and democracy," stresses Iranian activist Nilufar Saberi.
Ten months after Amini's death and the start of the protests over her murder and repression, the morality police will once again abduct, punish and punish girls and women who do not strictly comply with the established dress code, i.e. covering their hair and wearing long, loose-fitting, figure-concealing clothes.
This was announced by police spokesman Saeed Montazerolmahdi, who confirmed that patrols had resumed across the country to "deal with those who, unfortunately, ignore the consequences of not wearing the proper hijab and insist on disobeying the rules". "If they disobey police orders, legal action will be taken and they will be referred to the judicial system," he added. For Montazerolmahdi, the return of the patrols will serve to "expand public security" and "strengthen the foundations of the family". According to the Iranian news agency Tasnim, the decision was taken by President Ebrahim Raisi, Interior Minister Ahmed Vahidi and the judiciary.
As the spokesman pointed out, police will initially only warn those who do not comply with the dress laws, but if they violate the rules again, they will be prosecuted. Lesser punishments for not respecting dress codes include sweeping streets, cleaning public toilets or government buildings, as well as washing dead bodies. "They can do whatever they want with us," Saberi laments. These punishments are nothing compared to what Mahsa Amini, for example, suffered when she was beaten and tortured to death for not wearing the Islamic veil properly.
Even actress Azadeh Samadi has been sentenced to counselling sessions at "an official counselling centre to cure her anti-social personality disorder" for wearing a cap instead of a hijab during a funeral. The court has also banned Samadi from using her mobile phone for six months, while her social media accounts will be confiscated. Something similar has happened to fellow actress Leila Blukat, who was sentenced to 10 months in prison, 2 years without leaving the country or performing or appearing in advertisements (national and international) and 5 years without using social media for wearing a hat instead of a hijab. But this is not all. Blukat must also read a book and write a summary of it within a month.
Another judge in the Iranian capital sentenced a woman who also defied the absurd dress code to two months in prison, six months of treatment for what they have called "contagious psychological disorder causing sexual promiscuity". The woman is also banned from travelling abroad, Iran International reports.
"The Iranian people will not back down"
Criticism against the return of the morality police was not long in coming from a society that has been suffering the abuses of a repressive and corrupt regime for decades and which, in recent months, has taken decisive steps against this system. On social media, many Iranian citizens expressed their rejection of the patrols, as well as the strict and misogynistic dress codes. The young theatre actor Mohammed Sadeghi was one of those who spoke out against this repressive measure against women's rights. "If my friend, my sister and my mother want to wear clothes in a certain way, it has nothing to do with you," Sadeghi said, addressing the Iranian government.
But in the Islamic Republic it is not allowed to criticise, especially if you are famous and can have some influence on society. So the security forces did not hesitate to enter Sadeghi's house and arrest him while he was broadcasting the raid on Instagram. The actor jumped from a third floor in an attempt to escape the authorities, but after a chase he was eventually arrested and his whereabouts are still unknown.
Iranian citizens have taken a significant step forward and are not willing to back down. What began as a protest against the compulsory hijab quickly spread and highlighted many other problems suffered by the Iranian people, such as corruption, censorship, repression and the serious economic crisis.
"The regime is trying to return to the situation before the protests without changing anything or implementing reforms, to toughen its policies again, ignoring everything that has happened", explains Iranian analyst Daniel Bashandeh, who stresses that society has taken a very important step by "breaking down the wall of fear". "The citizens will not back down and will take every opportunity to take to the streets again. Any attack against citizens or any gesture that hardens politics will be seen as an attack on the people", he adds.
For Saberi, this return of the morality police means that women will be "more in danger than ever". She warns that they will do "whatever they want to terrorise them" without "paying any consequences inside or outside Iran's borders".
Some reformist Iranian media outlets, such as the Hammihan newspaper, have stressed that the return of these patrols could cause "chaos" in society, while politician Azar Mansouri - quoted by Iran Wire - acknowledged that the move showed that "the gap between the people and the state is widening".
Even former president Mohammed Khatami has stressed that the return of the morality police could lead to the "overthrow and collapse" of the regime. "The danger of self-defeat, which has been talked about many times, is more evident than ever with the return of the morality police," he said. Khatami also stressed that certain "incorrect methods" could create more tension in society.
The former president made a similar statement last December, in the midst of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests, a slogan that, according to Khatami, showed that Iranian society was moving towards a better future. The former reformist president called on the authorities to listen to the protesters' demands and also criticised the arrests and repression employed by the security forces against young people.
The international community does not want a regime change in Iran
Through videos circulating on social media, the world has already seen women and girls begging for help on the streets of Iran as they are forced into one of the white vans of the morality police. However, despite the gravity of the situation, there has been little in the way of strong reaction from the international community, as has been the case in recent months when Iranian security forces have killed more than 500 people.
Some governments have tightened sanctions against the regime in Tehran, although, as has been shown on several occasions, this is not the solution, as sanctions tend to affect the people themselves more than the rulers. As a result, the people face higher inflation, while inequalities and poverty levels rise.
"Sanctions against Iran will not influence the political direction of the regime, as it has the capacity to circumvent all kinds of sanctions," Bashandeh stresses. Recently, Iran has focused on forging a strong alliance with Russia, which is also sanctioned, in order to circumvent such economic punishments.
Therefore, as they have been doing for months, Iranians are calling on international governments to take stricter diplomatic measures, such as cutting off relations with Tehran or expelling ambassadors. "These kinds of measures can be effective, they send the message that human rights are not to be negotiated with", the analyst points out.
Saberi believes that the vast majority of international and regional executives are not interested in the fall of Iran's Islamist theocracy. "They don't want Iran to be a free and democratic country, they want the Islamists to stay in power so that they can continue to buy energy at a giveaway price from a government threatened by its own people," she says.
Energy is also relevant at the regional level, as it is not in the interest of Middle Eastern countries for the Islamists to leave because they would no longer be the main energy suppliers in the region. Likewise, "they would have a focus of rebellion against their governments" and "they would not want their women to rise up and demand equality following the Iranian example", adds Saberi. The activist also recalls the millions of dollars of the Iranian people blocked by the US that, should Iran become a free country, Washington would have to return.
Iran prepares for anniversary of Amini's death and the start of the revolution
Morality police return to the streets just months before the assassination of Mahsa Amini and the start of the historic protests in Iran. Although media coverage of the demonstrations has diminished, the Iranian revolution continues both inside and outside Iran.
"Every day more and more people around the world are joining this revolution, the first feminist revolution in history supported by both men and women," Saberi stresses. This has been one of the most novel aspects of these protests, as from day one men have been fighting alongside women in the streets. Saberi also refers to the "information silence" surrounding the uprisings. "They want to sell us that the revolution has been extinguished, but this is not true", she says.
In the run-up to the first anniversary of Amini's death, different groups are organising, including workers, teachers and, of course, women. However, Dehnavi warns that in the time between now and then, the regime "has plenty of time to take preventive measures".
As society prepares, so do the authorities. "The anniversary of Amini's death is making the Islamists tremble with panic. I fear the anniversary is going to be a bloody one," Saberi concludes.