The Iranian regime intensifies its surveillance measures to enforce hijab laws, employing drones and apps to target women, according to a recent UN investigation.
Iran's Government Employs Drones and Apps to Enforce Hijab Mandate
Iran's Government Employs Drones and Apps to Enforce Hijab Mandate
UN report reveals state-backed surveillance tactics against women defying dress code
The Islamic Republic of Iran has escalated its campaign against women who resist adhering to the mandated hijab as a recent report from the United Nations reveals the government's use of advanced surveillance technology. This strategy includes the deployment of drones and mobile applications aimed at enforcing strict dress codes and enabling public reporting of infractions.
The UN investigation describes a method of "state-sponsored vigilantism," where citizens are urged to utilize designated apps to report women who fail to comply with hijab standards while using taxis, buses, or even ambulances. The report highlights a concerted effort by Iranian authorities to co-opt private individuals and businesses in maintaining compliance with these gendered regulations, portraying the enforcement of hijab as a civic duty.
The conditions for women who refuse to wear the hijab or engage in protests against these laws are dire, often resulting in imprisonment, physical assault, or even sexual violence in custody. The report recalls the harrowing circumstances surrounding the fatality of Mahsa Amini in 2022, a case that fueled widespread protests against the Iranian government.
In implementing surveillance measures, the Iranian state has taken steps to ensure compliance on campuses and roadways, employing facial recognition technology at places like Amirkabir University and utilizing cameras on major roads to identify uncovered women.
The report found that the "Nazer" app allows users—including police and vetted civilians—to report instances of hijab violations, enabling the authorities to send warnings to vehicle owners identified as violating dress code laws. The consequences can be severe; vehicles can be seized for repeat offenses.
The UN's investigation involved nearly 300 personal testimonies from victims and witnesses, revealing a judicial system marked by a lack of independence and widespread violations of human rights, including torture, intimidation, and even extrajudicial killings.
This alarming report, outlining the systematic oppression faced by women in Iran, is set to be presented to the Human Rights Council on March 18. As public dissent continues, Iranian women remain resolute in their struggle for basic rights and freedoms.
The UN investigation describes a method of "state-sponsored vigilantism," where citizens are urged to utilize designated apps to report women who fail to comply with hijab standards while using taxis, buses, or even ambulances. The report highlights a concerted effort by Iranian authorities to co-opt private individuals and businesses in maintaining compliance with these gendered regulations, portraying the enforcement of hijab as a civic duty.
The conditions for women who refuse to wear the hijab or engage in protests against these laws are dire, often resulting in imprisonment, physical assault, or even sexual violence in custody. The report recalls the harrowing circumstances surrounding the fatality of Mahsa Amini in 2022, a case that fueled widespread protests against the Iranian government.
In implementing surveillance measures, the Iranian state has taken steps to ensure compliance on campuses and roadways, employing facial recognition technology at places like Amirkabir University and utilizing cameras on major roads to identify uncovered women.
The report found that the "Nazer" app allows users—including police and vetted civilians—to report instances of hijab violations, enabling the authorities to send warnings to vehicle owners identified as violating dress code laws. The consequences can be severe; vehicles can be seized for repeat offenses.
The UN's investigation involved nearly 300 personal testimonies from victims and witnesses, revealing a judicial system marked by a lack of independence and widespread violations of human rights, including torture, intimidation, and even extrajudicial killings.
This alarming report, outlining the systematic oppression faced by women in Iran, is set to be presented to the Human Rights Council on March 18. As public dissent continues, Iranian women remain resolute in their struggle for basic rights and freedoms.
