Iran has scrapped its morality police after more than two months of protests triggered by the arrest of Mahsa Amini for allegedly violating the country’s strict female dress code, local media said Sunday.
Demonstrators have burned their mandatory hijab head coverings and shouted anti-government slogans, and a growing number of women have refrained from wearing the hijab, particularly in parts of Tehran.
Women-led protests, labelled “riots” by the authorities, have swept Iran since the death of Mahsa Amini a 22-year-old Iranian of Kurdish origin died on September 16, three days after her arrest by the morality police in Tehran.
On September 13, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was arrested for allegedly flouting the country’s strict dress code. Three days later, she died in hospital – sparking violent protests across the country that show little sign of respite.
To date, more than 440 people have died due to the unrest – according to NGO Iran Human Rights – and some 14,000 people have been arrested.
Iran’s Attorney General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri announced the abolition of the country’s morality police by the relevant authorities, Isna news agency reported Sunday.
“The morality police has nothing to do with the judiciary, and it has been abolished by those who created it,” he said Saturday night in the holy city of Qom.
President Ebrahim Raisi said in televised comments Saturday that Iran’s republican and Islamic foundations were constitutionally entrenched “but there are methods of implementing the constitution that can be flexible”.
The morality police, known as the Gasht-e Ershad (guidance patrols), was a branch created under conservative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2006 to “spread the culture of decency and hijab.”
Its unit comprises of men in green uniforms and women wearing black chadors, which cover the head and upper body.
The Islamic Republic is also said to be reviewing the 1983 law that requires women to cover their heads.
PLEASE HELP US KEEP GOING AD-FREE
This is a "Pay as You Feel" website.
Hey there! Thanks for stopping by. If you've enjoyed reading the articles on Labour Heartlands so far, We would be incredibly grateful if you could consider making a small donation. Labour Heathlands is not your typical news outlet. We are not here to simply regurgitate the daily news cycle, that's for the rest of them. Our focus is on delving deeper, uncovering the untold stories and shedding light on the issues that the mainstream media chooses to ignore.
Our unwavering commitment to journalistic integrity means that we are not influenced by any external forces. We are not beholden to PR companies, advertisers or press barons, and we refuse to let anyone dictate what we report on. Our editorial independence is sacrosanct, and our only allegiance is to the truth.
While we do not align ourselves with any particular political party, we stand firmly against corruption, injustice and the erosion of truth and the rule of law. We believe that accurate information is the lifeblood of a democracy and that facts are not up for debate.
Once again, thank you for your support – We truly couldn't do this without you!
