Four Business Establishments Sealed in Semnan Province Over Women Without Headscarves
Four business establishments in Semnan Province were sealed off due to failure to observe hijab by women present in these locations.
Colonel Akbar Ghasemi, head of the Information and Public Security Police of Semnan Province, announced the sealing of 4 business establishments in the province due to what he referred to as failure to comply with Islamic hijab laws.
Colonel Ghasemi, in explaining this news, stated: “The sealing of these establishments has been carried out in line with the implementation of the plan to intensify control and supervision of businesses in Semnan Province, and assessing the extent to which businesses comply with the circulated laws and regulations is part of this plan’s components.”
According to the Information Police Chief, among the four sealed business establishments, two were restaurants, one was a wedding ceremony office, and one was a clothing store.
Thus far, many restaurants, coffee shops, and stores have been sealed off due to failure to observe hijab by individuals present in these places. The sealing of business establishments has been done by the Office of Supervision of Public Places of the Law Enforcement Force and with a court order. However, according to statements by “Nemat Ahmadi,” a first-grade attorney, sealing business establishments in the name of combating improper hijab is unlawful. According to the law, crime and punishment must be proportionate. The legislator has not yet defined a crime on the basis of which businesses can be punished due to improper hijab.
“Kambiz Noruzi,” a legal expert, while confirming Nemat Ahmadi’s statements, added: “There is no law on the basis of which business establishments can be sealed under the title of failure to observe hijab. The closure of business establishments under the title of failure to observe the hijab of customers of business establishments is unlawful, and no judicial body is authorized to close business establishments under such a pretext.”
