The Iranian police began, since Saturday, April 15, to apply the new measures to enforce the veil by women in the street and public places.
With our correspondent in Tehran, Siavosh Ghazi
According to the police chief, more than 3,500 SMS warnings were sent to businesses, including restaurants, cafes and shopping centers, to enforce the veil by employees but also customers. Some 150 restaurants and shops have been closed for non-respect of the veil.
These closures were ordered the day after the entry into force of a new police plan, notably using surveillance cameras and facial recognitionto control the wearing of the veil by women, compulsory since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
Mahnaz, owner of a cafe in Tehran, who prefers not to reveal his identity, explains how his shop was closed. “ A few days ago, we received a warning from the police for non-respect of the veil or irregular wearing of the Islamic veil by customers, he reports. And today, when the store was not open, the police put a sign on the front of the store saying that the store was forbidden to open. »
Hardening
This is also the case for Setareh, owner with her husband of a restaurant in a provincial town. “ A few days ago, without any warning, officers entered our restaurant and closed the restaurant for not respecting the Islamic veil, he testifies. We are still closed. We have to initiate administrative procedures and we believe that we will be able to reopen the restaurant within a week. »
Businesses must undertake to enforce the veil by customers or not to serve them. In shopping centers, security guards prevent the entry of unveiled women. Another measure, women who do not respect the veil will have to pay a fine and will be deprived of certain social services. This toughening comes at a time when more and more women are defying the compulsory dress code, in particular the wearing of the veil, since the start of the demonstrations triggered by the death in detention, on September 16, of Mahsa Amini, arrested for breaching the strict code. clothing.
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