Tehran Judiciary warns against non-compliance with Islamic dress codes

The Tehran Judiciary has issued a warning that it will not tolerate women appearing in public without the Islamic veil or in clothing deemed to be “nudity.” Naser Atabati, president of the provincial judiciary, stated during a meeting with prosecutors and police officials that authorities will act against behaviors that attempt to normalize practices contrary to the country’s social and religious norms.

Atabati noted that in some public spaces, the situation has progressed beyond the absence of the hijab to include what he described as “scenes of nudity.” He attributed these cultural shifts to “the intervention of the enemy,” a reference to the United States. This follows a directive from Iran’s head of the judiciary, Golamhosein Mohseni Eyei, to firmly prosecute “social anomalies,” specifically targeting women who do not wear the veil or appropriate overcoats.

These enforcement warnings come amid increasing civil disobedience in major Iranian cities. Since the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the Morality Police, many women have begun appearing in public without head coverings, sometimes wearing short-sleeved or sleeveless clothing, sparking the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement.