Hijab is mandatory in Iran, even on Instagram

The FATA Police Department has announced that from now on, those who post photos of themselves without a hijab on social media will be treated as criminals. However, a lawyer does not believe that it is legally correct to make it a crime to not wear a hijab on social media.

The deputy social police chief of FATA announced that revealing the hijab in cyberspace is also considered a crime, and anyone who does not comply with the hijab law in cyberspace will be considered a criminal.

Colonel Pashaei emphasized: "There is no difference between crimes in cyberspace and reality, and anything that causes public concern will definitely be dealt with, and the police will act seriously in this regard."

The law enforcement official then emphasized that "in cyberspace, there is no difference between popular people and people with fewer followers," putting an end to speculation that this law might only apply to celebrities and those with many fans in cyberspace, and clarified: "Any person who commits a violation in cyberspace and does not comply with the above will be considered a criminal."

The deputy police chief of FATA referred to the law on determining instances of criminal use of cyberspace, which was passed in 2009, according to which broadcasting content that is against public morality and decency in cyberspace is considered a crime.

He then concluded: "Regarding revealing the hijab in cyberspace, it should also be said that because it falls under the category of abnormalities, it is also considered a violation."

These statements come two days after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei addressed a group of students and academics. In the virtual meeting held on Sunday, May 18, he considered the hijab a “concern” of his, saying: “I have concerns about this issue, and I ask that the officials and heads of universities and relevant ministries, and especially the students and women themselves, pay attention to the issue of hijab and the separation between men and women, which is emphasized in Islam, and observe Islamic principles in universities.”

In early May, an Instagram influencer named Picasso Moein wrote that he and his wife, who are currently living outside Iran, have been sentenced to a total of 16 years in prison. One of the charges against his wife was that she posted a photo on Instagram without a hijab.

In a video he posted about the issue, Moin explained that when he was first summoned, they made him promise not to publish his wife's naked photo on Instagram.

This couple were medalists in martial arts in Iran.

The reality of the situation of Iranian women, even on Instagram

The statements of the deputy police chief of FATA have received various responses on social media.

Mahdieh Golroo, a former student activist and women's rights activist, emphasized in two tweets that this is the reality of life in the Islamic Republic. She wrote: "Don't create a false situation for women with color photos without the mandatory hijab, away from the eyes of the officers. The reality of our situation is this mandatory hijab, even on Instagram."

Ali Mojtahedzadeh, who is himself a lawyer, called the statements of the deputy police chief FATA illegal on Twitter because, in his opinion, based on the principle of "narrowness," no one has the right to expand criminal titles, and the mandatory hijab law only applies to public places.

Another user, whose Twitter photo is of her wearing a hijab, believes that the result of such encounters is "making people hate the hijab."

Source: DW