Iran intensifies hijab enforcement ahead of Mahsa Amini anniversary

As the fourth anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death approaches, Iranian authorities have reportedly intensified efforts to enforce compulsory veiling laws. Reports from several cities indicate a return to physical enforcement through morality-patrol vans, plainclothes forces, and street-level interventions targeting women.

This shift suggests a move away from previous reliance on surveillance cameras and fines toward more direct physical presence. The crackdown follows the 2022 nationwide uprising triggered by the death of Amini, who died in morality police custody after being detained for alleged non-compliance with dress code rules.

Despite previous violent suppression of protests, many women in Iran continue to practice civil disobedience by appearing in public without the mandated head covering. The regime faces a dilemma in attempting to restore social conditions to pre-2022 norms while risking further public unrest through aggressive enforcement.