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Morality Police In Iran: Guardian Of Tradition Or Symbol Of Repression? – Analysis

This year is definitely not a peaceful in the Middle East. Although it has rarely been peaceful in recent years, this spring was marked by very dangerous tensions between Iran and Israel. On April 1st, Israel bombed the Iranian embassy in Damascus, killing 16 people, including eight officers of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In retaliation, on April 13th, the Iranians made an unprecedented move by launching a direct attack on Israeli soil. Iranian troops fired about 170 drones, 30 cruise, and 120 ballistic missiles. According to Israeli data, 32 civilians were injured, and one person was seriously injured. On April 19th, Israel launched a new drone attack on Iranian air bases in the Isfahan and Tabriz areas, but it did not result in significant damage. Although further active exchanges of fire have not continued at the time of writing, and a major regional war has not started, Iranian-Israeli tensions spill over into all aspects of society in both the State of Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran. This is well illustrated by the example of Iran's Guidance Patrol, or Morality Police, which spectacularly returned to the scene in April. The Return of the Morality Police On the day of the attack on Israel, April 13th, official Tehran launched a new domestic political campaign called Nour (Light in Persian). The campaign's goal is to punish and arrest legal and natural persons who defy the law on wearing hijabs. Undoubtedly, the campaign was launched to satisfy the demands of conservative segments of citizens and ruling circles who were dissatisfied with the increasing number of unveiled women in public. The sanctions are severe. Women who refuse to wear hijabs will not be able to travel abroad, fines are deducted directly from the bank accounts of those fined, and cafes and restaurants where violations occur repeatedly are closed. Reports on social media show that some women who did not wear hijabs were arrested and taken away in the well-known white vans of the morality police. This provoked a negative reaction from opposition and human rights activists within Iran and abroad. They point out that the Nour campaign is not only aimed at enforcing the law on mandatory wearing of hijabs but also at discouraging any political dissent against the ruling administration. "The Islamic Republic has turned the streets into a battlefield against women and the youth," wrote Nobel Peace Prize laureate 2023 and detained rights activist Narges Mohammadi in a message from Tehran's Evin prison, published by her supporters on social media. There are numerous videos on social media showing the arrests of women who did not adhere to prescribed moral norms. Hijab – Pillar of the Iranian Theocratic System's Identity On April 21st, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the formation of a new executive body responsible for enforcing strict dress codes for women. The head of the IRGC in Tehran, Hassan Hassanzadeh, stated that the members of the body are trained to enforce the hijab law "more seriously" in public places. Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi defended the Nour campaign, saying that "projects implemented in the field of hijab are carried out within the framework of the law." Vahidi called the hijab "one of the pillars of the identity of the Iranian system and a Sharia principle" that "should not be allowed" to be loosely enforced. The Emergence of Iran's Moral Code The mandatory wearing of the hijab was introduced after the victory of the Iranian Islamic Revolution in 1979 according to Sharia laws. Women are required to cover their hair and wear long, loose clothing. Interestingly, the morality police were not introduced immediately after the revolution, but only in 2005. However, immediately after the coup in 1979, the revolutionary authorities began implementing a public moral code consistent with the Quran and other holy Islamic scriptures. Shia leaders sought to create a political and social order compatible with their religion – Shia Islam. Initially, the Islamic Revolutionary Committees (Komiteh), which had a de facto role of the morality police, were responsible for building an Islamic society whose role was to protect the achievements of the Iranian Revolution. As the new system stabilized, it gradually institutionalized its moral code and mechanisms for its enforcement. However, for decades, the Iranian state did not have a specialized body dedicated to enforcing the moral code. After a period of relative openness under reform-oriented President Mohammad Khatami in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the conservative government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad finally introduced the morality police in 2005. The institution is one of the most controversial aspects of the Iranian theocratic state and Iranian society as a whole. Officially and fully named, the morality police are called Gašt-e Eršad or the Patrol for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. It was created to preserve Islamic moral values and to monitor and align citizens' behavior with the norms of Islamic law. The Role of the Morality Police The Iranian state possesses a widespread network of religious authorities who oversee the daily lives of citizens. In this context, the morality police act as an extension of religious leaders, enforcing their interpretations of Sharia law on the ground. Its members are most often members of the Revolutionary Guard and religious militias. One of the key roles of the morality police is monitoring dress (dress code) and public behavior. Women are a particular focus of their attention, as they are expected to cover their bodies and hair in accordance with Islamic centuries-old customs and traditions. Any deviation from the norms of Islamic law can result in verbal warnings, fines, or temporary imprisonment. The morality police not only patrol open spaces such as streets and parks but also other public spaces to ensure that Islamic laws are not violated. They ensure the separation of men and women in public spaces, such as restaurants, cafes, buses. It is forbidden for men and women to socialize or touch in public unless they are related or married. Furthermore, the morality police suppress the consumption of alcohol, which is strictly prohibited under Islamic law. It is important to know that the morality police, with greater or lesser powers, also exist in some other Muslim countries such as Afghanistan, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and Nigeria. Mahsa Amini Protests, Withdrawal, and Return Provisions of Sharia law regarding non-compliance with the wearing of the hijab (public reprimand, fine, or imprisonment for violators) became a crucial political issue after the death of Kurdish girl Mahsa Amini in the fall of 2022. She died in custody after being arrested for not wearing the hijab correctly. The official version states that she died of cardiac arrest, while the unofficial one claims that the death was the result of brutal beatings. This led to massive Mahsa Amini protests in 2022-23, which seriously shook the Shia regime. However, the theocratic order did not fall despite widespread protests and international sanctions that caused an economic crisis. Although major world media emphasized the significant return of the morality police only this April, it had started returning even earlier. In fact, it was never abolished. It was tactically withdrawn during the protests in 2022 to avoid irritating some younger generations who are eager for change - they want to abolish Islamist rule and introduce a more democratic pro-Western system. The significant return of moral patrols actually happened in July last year. Patrols could be seen in major cities such as Tehran, Shiraz, and Rasht. At that time, the spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Interior, Saeed Montazer al-Mahdi, announced that car and foot patrols would be conducted to respond to those who, in his words, have "extraordinary clothing and continue to insist on violating norms." The patrols began using facial recognition technology in an attempt to reduce public confrontations. It is estimated that up to 10% of Iranian women did not properly cover their hair from the start of the protests in the fall of 2022 until mid-2023, and the police did not punish them. Photos of unveiled women became common on social media, but also on the streets of Tehran. This was the main motivation for Iranian clerics to introduce more frequent patrols. Despite the declared repressive policy, the current number of unveiled women in public spaces is not publicly known, but numerous photos on social media show that there are significantly fewer of them. Controversies The moral police have not been without their controversies. Critics argue that the institution is a symbol of repression, primarily aimed at restricting the basic rights of women and girls. Many see it police as a tool of theocratic power that uses coercion and fear to enforce its own understanding of morality. In recent years, Iran has witnessed numerous protests against the activities of the morality police, especially among younger generations who aspire to greater personal freedom and modern values. Additionally, the institution is often accused of selective enforcement and abuse of power, leading to a sense of injustice and dissatisfaction among the population. However, some conservative circles in Iranian society believe that the moral police play a crucial role in preserving the values and culture of Shia Islam. They argue that the institution is necessary to protect society from the harmful influences of Western culture and the breakdown of traditional moral values. According to them, the morality police are a guarantee that the Iranian nation will remain true to its religious and cultural roots, especially in the context of globalization and the growing influence of the West. Conclusion While the Iranian morality police may have a special role in the form of religious guardians, it is clear that their influence on society and politics is more complex. Ultimately, their role and activities reflect the deep contradictions in Iranian society between tradition and modernity, religious orthodoxy and liberal aspirations, as well as the eternal struggle for power and control over society. At the same time, it cannot be denied that their position in society is also a strong indicator of internal tensions within the regime, which is struggling to reconcile religious ideals and pragmatic political and security needs. While some see them as defenders of religious and cultural values, others see them as symbols of oppression and barriers to progress. The only thing that is certain is that the Iranian morality police will continue to be a topic of debate and disagreement in both Iran and the international community.