Two Iranian actresses have been accused of not wearing the mandatory veil in public, which is a crime under the country’s law. Baran Kosari was accused of not wearing the veil at an actor’s funeral, and photos of her appearance were published on the internet. Shaghayegh Dehghan was also accused of not wearing the hijab in a coffee shop. The charges came after four other actresses were accused of the same offense. Katayoun Riahi, Pantea Bahram, Afsaneh Baygan, and Fatemeh Motamedarya were accused of not wearing the veil, but none were arrested.
Since the entry into force of a new police plan in April to control the wearing of the veil, more and more Iranian women have taken to the streets unveiled, especially after the protest movement sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini last September. The authorities have closed stores, such as cafes and restaurants, where female employees and customers do not respect the compulsory wearing of the veil.
The attorney general, Mohamed Jafar Montazeri, has asked the Ministry of Transport to reinforce checks on unveiled female passengers on airplanes. The veil law is one of the most controversial laws in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The government has imposed sanctions on women who do not comply with the wearing of the veil, leading to the arrest and prosecution of many of them. These charges and arrests of well-known actresses have been criticized by many at home and abroad, who see the enforcement of the veil law as a violation of human rights and freedom of expression.
Friday, March 29, 2024