Promoting Virtue or Illegal Violation of Privacy?

The practice of promoting virtue with regard to mandatory hijab by those who engage in this practice has exceeded its limits and has become an illegal violation of individuals’ privacy.

During the Nowruz holidays when Iranians travel to different cities to spend their vacation, they encounter numerous promoters of virtue in various parts of cities, especially at historical and recreational sites, who give verbal reminders to women and girls about mandatory hijab. In many cases, they also prevent them from entering tourist sites.

Many videos of interactions by promoters of virtue have been published on social media showing inappropriate conduct by these individuals toward women and girls, which in many cases is accompanied by physical assault and verbal abuse. Another video has been published on social media in which a promoter, after reminding a mother and daughter who went to a shop to buy groceries, pours a bucket of yogurt over their heads when they ignore him. Meanwhile, the shop owner and some people present at the scene attack the individual giving the reminder and engage in a confrontation with him.

Mohsen Borhani, a legal expert, in response to the actions of this individual and others who exceed the limits in promoting virtue and violate others’ privacy, quoted a law in his Twitter account as follows: “If the prohibitor of evil goes beyond the verbal stage and violates the dignity, life, property, privacy and rights of individuals, this action is no longer prohibition of evil, but rather an illegal violation and a crime, and others, in accordance with Article 156 of the Islamic Penal Code, will have the right of legitimate defense against his conduct.”

In many cities including Isfahan, Kermanshah, Shiraz and others, activists in tourism centers who encounter disturbances caused by promoters of virtue toward women and girls have engaged in confrontations with these individuals and have assaulted the promoters of virtue.

Iranian men not only can no longer endure the oppression of girls and women by the regime, but stand beside them and support them against injustice.