In Iran, the authorities have closed more than 150 shops as part of an intensified crackdown on enforcing the headscarf requirement. The police “unfortunately” had to interrupt the operation of “137 shops and 18 restaurants and event venues” in the country, said police spokesman Said Montaserolmahdi today, according to the Tasnim news agency. The shops had ignored “warnings” in connection with the headscarf requirement. The measures followed an announcement by the Iranian police that violations of the duty would henceforth be punished consistently.
The security forces will now crack down on women violating the headscarf ban in “public places, in vehicles and elsewhere,” a statement released on the police website said. Technologies would also be used to identify those affected – i.e. recognition software.
Taking off the hijab is a criminal offense, the statement quoted security police chief Hassan Mofakhami as saying. Anyone who breaks the law should be held accountable. This also applies to companies that allow women to take off their headscarves at work. They would first be warned, if it happened again they would have to expect their closure.
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