Iran has intensified its surveillance efforts to enforce the mandatory hijab law, using advanced technologies such as facial recognition, drones, and mobile apps to monitor and punish women who do not comply. These measures reflect the Iranian regime’s growing reliance on digital surveillance to suppress dissent and maintain control over women’s rights. The use of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven monitoring tools marks a dangerous escalation in the state’s ability to track and penalize women who defy strict dress codes.
Facial Recognition: A Tool for Enforcing Hijab Compliance
Iran has been at the forefront of integrating facial recognition technology into public surveillance. In 2022, Tehran became one of the first cities to deploy facial recognition systems at major public sites, including transportation hubs, shopping centers, and government buildings. These AI-powered cameras can identify women who are not wearing a hijab and link them to national identity databases, enabling authorities to issue fines, warnings, or even arrests.
The Iranian government has justified the use of this technology under the pretext of maintaining “public morality.” However, human rights organizations warn that this system significantly expands the state’s ability to suppress women’s freedoms. With Iran’s vast network of surveillance cameras, non-compliant women can be identified and penalized without direct intervention from law enforcement officers.
“Nazer” App: Encouraging Citizen Surveillance
One of the most alarming developments in Iran’s crackdown on women is the introduction of the “Nazer” app, a government-developed tool that encourages citizens to report hijab violations. This app allows ordinary individuals to report women not wearing a hijab in taxis, buses, ambulances, and other public spaces. The Iranian regime has turned its citizens into enforcers, fostering a culture of fear and mistrust.
The Nazer app is a clear example of state-sponsored vigilantism, where the government relies on civilians to reinforce oppressive laws. This strategy not only tightens the state’s grip on society but also pits individuals against one another, eroding community solidarity. Many women have reported being harassed or arrested based on anonymous reports submitted through the app.
Drones Used to Monitor Women’s Dress Code
The Iranian government has also begun using drones to enforce the hijab law. Drones are deployed across cities like Tehran, scanning public areas for uncovered women. These unmanned aerial surveillance devices can capture images and videos of women violating dress code regulations, feeding this data into government monitoring systems.
The use of drones to police women’s clothing represents an extreme level of surveillance and state control. With drones patrolling the streets and facial recognition cameras installed in public areas, Iranian women face an environment where their every movement is watched, recorded, and scrutinized.
The Hijab Law and Its Historical Roots
Iran’s mandatory hijab law was instituted after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, when the newly established theocratic regime enforced strict dress codes for women. The law requires all women, including non-Muslims and foreign visitors, to wear a headscarf and loose-fitting clothing in public. Those who defy the rule face fines, imprisonment, or violent crackdowns by the morality police.
The hijab law has long been a symbol of state control over women’s bodies and personal freedoms, making it a focal point of resistance for Iranian women. Over the decades, countless women have protested against the law, often facing severe punishment for doing so.
Women Who Have Paid the Price for Defying the Hijab Law
Iran’s harsh enforcement of the hijab law has led to the arrest, torture, and even death of women who have resisted. Several high-profile cases illustrate the brutality of the regime:
- Zhina (Mahsa) Amini – A 22-year-old Kurdish woman who died in 2022 after being detained and beaten by the morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab “improperly.” Her death sparked mass protests across Iran, demanding an end to the hijab law and greater women’s rights.
- Niloofar Hamedi – The journalist who first reported on Mahsa Amini’s death was arrested and now faces charges that could lead to execution.
- Saba Kordafshari – A young activist sentenced to over 24 years in prison for removing her hijab in protest.
- Yasaman Aryani – Arrested for giving flowers to women on a train while not wearing a hijab, she was sentenced to 16 years in prison for advocating women’s freedom.
These cases highlight Iran’s systematic oppression of women, where those who challenge the status quo face harsh retaliation.
“State-Sponsored Vigilantism”: Turning Society Against Itself
The Iranian government has actively encouraged ordinary citizens, businesses, and taxi drivers to report hijab violations. This form of state-sponsored vigilantism has created an atmosphere of fear and mistrust, where people are incentivized to betray friends, colleagues, and even family members.
The regime has placed pressure on private businesses, threatening them with closure if they allow unveiled women into their establishments. The government’s surveillance has extended into workplaces, public transport, and social gatherings, forcing compliance through fear rather than persuasion.
International Response and Condemnation
Iran’s growing use of technology to enforce the hijab law has drawn condemnation from human rights organizations and governments worldwide. Many have called for increased sanctions against Iranian officials responsible for these digital surveillance tactics.
- The United Nations has criticized Iran for its extreme restrictions on women’s rights and freedom of expression.
- The European Union and United States have imposed sanctions on Iran’s morality police and officials involved in human rights abuses.
- Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have denounced Iran’s use of facial recognition and drones as tools of oppression.
Despite international condemnation, the Iranian government continues to tighten its grip on digital surveillance, restricting internet access and increasing penalties for women who defy the hijab law.
Women in Iran Continue to Resist
Despite the extreme oppression, Iranian women have continued to fight back against the hijab law, risking their freedom and lives for basic human rights. Since the Mahsa Amini protests, thousands of women have publicly defied the law by removing their hijabs, cutting their hair, and sharing videos of their protests online.
These acts of resistance have inspired global movements in solidarity with Iranian women, using hashtags like #WomenLifeFreedom and #NoToForcedHijab to spread awareness. The protests have also led to growing demands for regime change, as many Iranians believe the government’s strict control over women symbolizes broader authoritarianism and repression.
Iran’s use of facial recognition, drones, and surveillance apps to enforce the hijab law represents a new era of digital authoritarianism. The government has turned technology into a weapon against women, creating a society where people live under constant surveillance and fear.
However, the resilience of Iranian women proves that no amount of surveillance can silence the demand for freedom and equality. As global pressure mounts and protests continue, the struggle for women’s rights in Iran remains a powerful force for change.
The fight is far from over.
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