Policing Women's Hair, Not Israel, is the Achilles' Heel of Iranian Regime
Politics and Society News Editorial:
In recent years, Iran's arch regional rivals, Israel and Saudi Arabia, have joined forces to weaken Iran's powerful regime. The election of Donald Trump and his one-sided cancelation of the US-Iran Nuclear Deal was largely supported by Israel and Saudi Arabia (and interestingly Russia, as claimed by an article in The New Yorker). The cancelation of the Iran Nuclear Deal has seriously crippled Iran's economy due to Iran's inability to export oil at official market prices and channels. The recent annual inflation index in Iran is approaching 50%, a record high in the country's history.
There are frequent mysterious explosions and fires (possibly arson) in Iran's factories, residential and commercial towers and public infrastructure as well as targeted assassinations of Iran's key authorities, sometimes blamed on Israel or Saudi Arabia, who are also often blamed for orchestrating attacks on pro-Iranian forces in Syria and Iraq.
But the people of Iran are now used to various sanctions and economic pressures. Perhaps none of these pressures has undermined the power of the Iranian regime more than it's dogged policing of women's hair on the streets though Morality Police patrols (vice squad). In recent weeks, the sudden death of Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian woman from Kurdistan, while in the custody of morality police for being immodest, has stirred country-wide outrage. Street protesters (some armed) across the country have brazenly attacked and reportedly killed government militia and police riot force officers. Several Iranian celebrities who have declared their solidarity with street protesters have been arrested or blacklisted by the conservative government.
Iran is one of the only remaining countries in the world that mandates Hijab for women and requires them to cover their hair and body with loose garments. Many of Iran's top female athletes, scientists, engineers, artists and chess players have immigrated and sought asylum in other countries without theocratic governments and strict laws. Earlier this year, for the first time in Iran, a large group of young girls in the city of Shiraz have participated in an act of group rebellion against mandatory head cover laws by removing their scarves during a public skating meetup.
The government even imposes mandatory head cover (Hijab) for women after their death. Recently an official at Tehran's largest cemetery removed tombstones of deceased women with engraved portraits depicting them with poor (immodest) head cover! Separately, in the city of Gorgan in northern Iran, the statue of a woman was labeled immodest and removed because it showed parts of her ankle!
Related to Hijab:
- In Pictures: Tehran's Fashion Show
- Woman's Statue Labeled Immodest, Removed for Showing Her Ankle
- Controversy over Children of Ahmadinejad's Cultural Advisor
- In Pictures: Iranian policewomen convention
- Iran's Morality Police Issues Male Footballer "Immodest Hair Cover" Warning Citation!
- Weekly Headlines: Ahmadinejad Visits Israel Pavilion? PhD in Morality? Iranian Women Defeat Russians in Ice Hockey
- A Cleric Warned About His Poor Hijab! In Pictures: As Iranian Currency Plunges, Police Cracks Down on Hookah Salons and Women's Hijab
- Despite Hijab, Iranian Woman Breaks Guinness World Record in Handcuffed Swimming
- Another Honor Killing Shocks Iran
- Video: Iranian Parkour Master Arrested for "Tehran At Dawn" Had Lost Father Mysteriously
- Controversial Video Shows Iranian Women in Swimsuit Without Hijab
- Why are Iran's Top Athletes Leaving the Country in Droves?
- Halsey Wants to Have a Concert in Iran!
- Woman Goes Wild, Removes Hijab, Starts Dancing in the Holy City of Mashhad
- In Pictures: Tears and Watermelon! Iranian Women Allowed into Stadiums after 40 years, and Self Immolation of Sahar
Related to women:
- Cancer-causing Baby Powder? Did the Manufacturer Know about it for Decades?
- Woman's Statue Labeled Immodest, Removed for Showing Her Ankle
- Turkey Snubs Iran, Pairs Iran's Top Volleyball Players with Women
- In Pictures: Iranian policewomen convention
- Iran's Morality Police Issues Male Footballer "Immodest Hair Cover" Warning Citation!
- Weekly Headlines: Playgirls Murdered in Tehran, Zarrab's New Name and Lifestyle in Miami, Tehran's $50 million Penthouse
- Weekly Headlines: Ahmadinejad Visits Israel Pavilion? PhD in Morality? Iranian Women Defeat Russians in Ice Hockey
- Unmasked: Persian Dance Performance for Trudeau and Ministers?
- Mohsen Namjoo Apologizes to, But His Lawyer Warns, Those Accusing him of Sexual Abuse
- Iranian American Becomes the Youngest Woman Ever Elected to the Phoenix City Council
- In Pictures: Women's Basketball League Finals in Iran
- Iran's Me-Too Movement: Women Accuse Aidin Aghdashloo of Sexual Abuse
- Brice Becomes the First Iranian American Elected to US Congress
- In Pictures: Women's Cycling Tournament in Iran
- Iranian American Lawyer Challenging a Trumpist Veteran in Texas
