The Islamic Republic has adopted new methods to punish women who refuse to wear the mandatory Islamic hijab. Authorities have installed cameras on the streets to monitor non-hijab-wearing women in a tactic aimed at secretly exposing violations of Iran's strict dress codes. The government has also mandated that both private and public sectors refrain from providing services to "violators." Warnings have been issued regarding the possibility of penalties ranging from heavy fines to imprisonment.
Many women can now often be seen without hijabs in shopping centers, airports, restaurants, and streets, reflecting a form of civil disobedience. Several lawmakers and politicians have warned that protests might resume if authorities continue to focus on punishing women who oppose the imposition of hijab. An Iranian source noted that the new methods to enforce hijab may exacerbate Iran's economic problems. Government media reported that thousands of companies and businesses have been closed in recent days, including a shopping center in Tehran with 450 stores, because its employees did not comply with the mandatory hijab law.
Iran has faced nearly continuous protests from workers and retirees for several months due to an inflation rate exceeding 50 percent, rising unemployment rates, and unpaid wages, compounded by the economic strain from U.S. sanctions and mismanagement.
