Surveillance State: Iran's High-Tech Tactics to Enforce Hijab Laws**

The UN reports Iran's escalating use of technological surveillance and state-sponsored vigilantism to enforce dress codes among women, leading to severe repercussions.**

Iran's government is ramping up efforts to enforce its stringent dress code for women through the use of advanced surveillance technologies and citizen-reporting apps, according to a recent United Nations report. In a bid to maintain control over public morality, Iranian authorities have initiated a campaign that capitalizes on public participation and high-tech monitoring.

The UN's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission has observed that government officials now encourage citizens to report women who violate hijab regulations via a dedicated app named "Nazer." This application allows users to log details such as vehicle license plates and the exact location of infractions, which then alerts police about potential violations. Women who fail to uphold the dress code are subject to dire consequences, ranging from arrest and severe beatings to torture and sexual violence while in custody.

Drones and facial recognition cameras play a significant role in this system, aiding in the surveillance of hijab compliance in public spaces. Reports indicate that these technologies are primarily focused on urban areas like Tehran, where compliance is enforced through intimidation rather than open dialogue. The consequences are dire: women who do not conform face arrest, and families of dissenters are often threatened with repercussions themselves.

Analyzing testimonies from nearly 300 victims and witnesses, the report highlights systematic discrimination against women, transcending both law and societal norms. It emphasizes that Iranian women continue to face a multitude of barriers to their freedoms and rights, which are exacerbated by the state's oppressive tactics. The findings reiterate concerns raised after the high-profile death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, an event that ignited widespread protests against such draconian measures.

The report's findings will be presented to the Human Rights Council on March 18, spotlighting the grave human rights abuses and the Iranian state's reliance on intimidation and brutality to maintain control. As the situation continues to unfold, the international community’s focus remains on advocating for the rights and freedoms of women in Iran.