As Iran intensifies its enforcement of mandatory hijab laws, a UN investigation reveals the state's reliance on drones, surveillance technology, and citizen reporting apps to penalize non-compliance. The report underscores severe repercussions for women defying these regulations and highlights ongoing protests rooted in systemic discrimination.
Iran Utilizes Drones and Apps to Enforce Hijab Regulations Amidst Growing Dissent
Iran Utilizes Drones and Apps to Enforce Hijab Regulations Amidst Growing Dissent
A recent UN report details Iran's use of advanced technology and community vigilance to enforce strict dress codes on women, exposing systemic discrimination and human rights abuses.
Iran is tightening its grip on dissent through the use of advanced technology, specifically drones and citizen reporting apps, to enforce strict dress code laws for women. According to a recent report from the United Nations, Iranian authorities are employing a strategy termed "state-sponsored vigilantism" to recruit individuals to report women violating hijab mandates, particularly within vehicles like taxis and ambulances.
The findings of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran indicate that this unprecedented technological approach includes heightened surveillance via security cameras and drones monitoring women in Tehran and across southern Iran. The document reveals a grim reality for women resisting these laws, facing potential repercussions such as arrest, physical violence, and even sexual assault while in detention.
The report references the tragic case of Mahsa Amini, whose alleged beating by morality police after her arrest in 2022 sparked nationwide protests. Even though the state denies wrongdoing and attributes her death to "sudden heart failure," her story symbolizes the ongoing struggle for women's rights in Iran. Nearly two years post-protests, the oppression continues unabated, with systemic discrimination against women persistently manifested in law and practice, especially regarding hijab enforcement.
Institutions like Amirkabir University have begun employing facial recognition technology to identify women failing to adhere to dress codes, further contributing to an atmosphere of fear and heightened surveillance. Moreover, the Iranian police have rolled out the "Nazer" mobile application, which enables designated citizens to anonymously report uncovered women in various public settings. Reports can include details such as vehicle license plates and specific locations, which are then relayed to police, potentially resulting in impounded vehicles if offenders do not respond to warnings.
This UN investigation included interviews with roughly 300 affected individuals, shedding light on Iran’s judicial shortcomings and ruthlessness toward victims of human rights violations. The report also alleged instances of torture, intimidation of victim families, and extrajudicial killings falsely categorized as suicides by the regime. Graphically detailed accusations of sexual violence in custody demonstrate the horrifying lengths to which state forces go to maintain control.
Scheduled for presentation before the Human Rights Council on March 18, the report amplifies calls for accountability and reform amid Iran's ongoing struggle between repression and the craving for change among its women and the broader populace.
