TEHRAN – Iran’’s morality police are to resume controversial street patrols to enforce the dress code requiring women to cover their hair and wear loose clothing.
It comes 10 months after mass protests erupted in response to the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who was held for allegedly wearing “improper” hijab.
Women and girls have burnt their headscarves or waved them in the air at the anti-establishment demonstrations.
Many have even stopped covering their hair in public altogether.
Authorities attempted to enforce the dress code using other measures while the morality police patrols were paused, but they have been met with derision on social media and open defiance on the streets.
Under Iranian law, which is based on the country’s interpretation of Sharia, women must cover their hair with a hijab (headscarf) and wear long, loose-fitting clothing to disguise their figures.
Since 2006, special police units formally known as the Guidance Patrols (Gasht-e Ershad) have been tasked with enforcing those rules. (BBC)
