Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmady and two male musicians were arrested following her nearly 2 million-view YouTube concert, which violated Iran’s strict dress code by showing her without a hijab. The concert, featuring Ahmady in a sleeveless dress, prompted a Thursday judiciary filing, leading to Saturday arrests in Sari and Tehran. Charges remain unclear, but the arrests reflect a recent tightening of enforcement regarding Islamic dress codes, mirroring a shift away from the relative leniency seen in the wake of Mahsa Amini’s death. These actions highlight the continued restrictions on women’s artistic expression and public appearance in Iran.
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Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi and two musicians were arrested for performing a YouTube concert without a hijab, defying Iran’s strict morality laws prohibiting women from singing publicly. The concert, viewed 74,000 times in 12 hours despite YouTube restrictions, was performed without an audience but broadcast online. Authorities immediately announced a trial following the performance, which challenged the mandatory hijab and broader restrictions on women’s freedoms. This arrest follows ongoing protests against these laws ignited by Mahsa Amini’s death in 2022.
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Iran’s government is escalating its efforts to suppress women who resist the hijab mandate by opening a “Clinic for Quitting Hijab Removal” in Tehran. This clinic, overseen by the government body responsible for enforcing strict religious standards, aims to provide “scientific and psychological treatment” to women who choose not to wear the hijab, particularly young women. This move follows the recent arrest and forced psychiatric evaluation of a student who protested the hijab requirement by stripping to her underwear. These actions are part of a wider pattern of repression against women in Iran, including increased surveillance, morality police presence, and bans on unveiled women in public spaces. This systematic oppression of women, labelled “gender apartheid” by the UN, has been widely condemned by human rights groups and Iranian mental health professionals.
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The Iranian government has established a mental health clinic in Tehran specifically to “treat” women who choose not to wear the hijab. The clinic, called the “Clinic for Quitting Hijab Removal,” is part of a larger effort to suppress dissent and reinforce Islamic dress codes. The center will be overseen by the Headquarters for Enjoining the Good and Forbidding the Evil, a government body responsible for enforcing strict religious standards. This initiative is the latest in a series of measures aimed at controlling women’s appearance and silencing their voices, including surveillance, stricter morality police presence, and bans on unveiled women in public spaces.
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A female Iranian student was arrested after stripping off her clothes at the Islamic Azad University in Tehran. The act was a protest against an alleged assault by security forces over her improper hijab. The student was said to be further assaulted during arrest, and the incident has since gone viral on social media. The arrest comes in a context of increased enforcement of strict dress codes for women. Despite Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian denouncing such policies during his campaign, ongoing measures such as facial recognition systems at university entry gates reinforce the wearing of hijabs.
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Being a woman in Iran must be a frightening experience, especially in light of the recent news about Iranian women being violently dragged from the streets by police amid a hijab crackdown. Reading accounts of women being insulted, kicked, and physically abused for simply not conforming to strict religious dress codes is deeply disturbing. It is difficult to comprehend how such violence is considered acceptable in the name of religion.
As an Israeli, I can’t help but feel a sense of solidarity with the women of Iran who are being subjected to such oppressive treatment. The thought of living in a society where individuals are treated as second-class citizens simply based on their gender or religious beliefs is abhorrent.… Continue reading
University students in Iran have once again taken a stand against the oppressive regime that enforces the mandatory hijab rule. These brave individuals have decided to boycott classes in protest of the restriction placed upon women in their country. It takes immense courage to speak out against such deeply ingrained beliefs and practices. The fact that these students are willing to risk their safety and future for the sake of women’s rights is truly commendable.
The youth are the future of a nation, and when they lose their voice and agency, the country suffers as a whole. By standing up against the enforced hijab, these students are not only fighting for gender equality but also for the freedom to express themselves without fear of repercussion.… Continue reading
Sexual assault and brutal beatings: Iran renews violent hijab crackdown. It’s heartbreaking to see the stories coming out of Iran, where women are being subjected to violence and abuse by their own government. The Iranian regime, in a desperate attempt to assert its power and control, is cracking down on women who refuse to wear the mandatory hijab. This is not about religion or morality; it’s about oppression and control. The hijab is being used as a tool to suppress women and limit their freedom.
The fact that Iran was appointed to chair the UN rights meeting last year is a cruel joke.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker