Hijab

What is Basij? The Islamic Republic's 'iron fist' to suppress protesters - explainer

Basij, a key paramilitary militia under the IRGC, has a violent history of suppressing protests, enforcing morality laws, and committing human rights abuses, including torture and sexual abuse.

A Basij militia member patrols in Tehran following a US strike, March 5, 2026; illustrative.
IRANIANS GATHER while blocking a street during a protest in Kermanshah, Iran on January 8, 2026.

'Mercenaries for foreigners': Khamenei accuses Iranian protesters of acting on behalf of Trump

High school students studying classes at school

Austrian lower house passes headscarf ban for under-14s in schools

 February 1 marks World Hijab Day. (Illustrative).

Austrian government presses ahead with planned headscarf ban in schools


French ban of Muslim abaya robes in schools draws applause, criticism

France has enforced a strict ban on religious symbols in state schools since 19th-century laws removed any traditional Catholic influence from public education.

 Muslim women wearing abaya robes.

NGO calls for blacklist of Bosch after it sells 8,000 spy cameras to Iran

Reports claim Bosch sold Iran 8,000 cameras to Iran that are used to spy on women to make sure they comply with the hijab law.

 Iranian women walk on a street amid the implementation of the new hijab surveillance in Tehran, Iran, April 15, 2023.

Iranian chess player who removed hijab gets Spanish citizenship

The 26-year-old has told Reuters she had no regrets over her gesture in support of the protest movement against her country's clerical leadership.

Sara Khadem of Iran plays against Olga Girya of Russia.

What Iran doubling down on hijab enforcement means - analysis

Iranian media has relaunched attacks against the family of murdered Mahsa Jina Amini, who was killed for not wearing the hijab.

 Iranian Americans rally outside the White House on September 24, 2022, in support of anti-regime protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini.

Repression by the morality police: Iran’s ethnic minority ‘taming’ policy - opinion

As South Azerbaijani dissident Babek Chalabi noted, the world needs to "break free from Iran's nurturing of terrorism."

 IRANIAN POLICE officers patrol a street amid the revival of the morality police in Tehran, this week.

Iranian police confirm 'morality patrols' back on the streets

The "morality police's" operations were scaled back after protests erupted when Mahsa Amini was killed in their custody last year.

Morality police take down the name of a detained woman during a crackdown on "social corruption" in north Tehran, June 18, 2008.

What do MENA Muslims think about the role of women in society? – study

The researchers surveyed respondents from Algeria, Egypt, Pakistan, Tunisia, Turkey, and the Palestinian Territories on their perception of women's chastity and marital patriarchy.

Women shop at a street in Tehran, Iran, November 29, 2021.

Iran resorts to security cameras, ostracism to deter unveiled women

Another novel tactic is a government order to both private and public sectors not to provide services to "violators." Warnings of heavy fines and even imprisonment have been issued.

 An Iranian woman walks in a street in Tehran, Iran, April 9, 2023.

Iran says there were no school poisonings, blames foreign 'enemies'

The wave of suspected attacks has affected thousands of schoolgirls and provoked public anger.

 A group of schoolgirls in Iran.

Iran shutters hundreds of business in hijab crackdown

After months of protests, Iranian police announced that they were amending how they enforce hijab regulations.

 Iranian women walk on a street amid the implementation of the new hijab surveillance in Tehran, Iran, April 15, 2023.