Three people have been detained following an altercation at a Tehran subway station that erupted over the enforcement of Iran's mandatory hijab law, a sign of the deep discontent among many Iranians over the rule.
Tehran's subway police reported on November 5 that the incident occurred when a woman tasked with advising on the hijab rules was allegedly assaulted after talking to a passenger about the compulsory head-scarf regulations.
Police chief Abbas Karami Rad confirmed that three suspects allegedly involved in the incident were arrested and transferred to a police station in northern Tehran.
The hijab became compulsory for women and girls over the age of 9 in 1981, two years after the Islamic Revolution in Iran. The move triggered protests that were swiftly crushed by the new authorities. Many women have flouted the rule over the years and pushed the boundaries of what officials say is acceptable clothing.
Disdain for the rule turned to widespread anger after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in Tehran while she was in custody for an alleged hijab violation.
SEE ALSO: Special Report: The Protests That Shook Iran's Clerical SystemHer death spawned the "Women, life, freedom" protests across the country involving tens of thousands of Iranians, many of whom were already upset over deteriorating living standards. Campaigns were also launched against the law, although many of those who initiated them have been jailed by the state or forced to leave the country for their safety.
Authorities have been even further on edge after 17-year-old Armita Garavand died last month after a confrontation with morality police in the same Tehran subway system.
Rights groups and journalists say Garavand and two of her friends were confronted by officers for not wearing the mandatory hijab as they tried to enter a Tehran subway station.
SEE ALSO: Prominent Iranian Religious Scholar Says Hijab Law Should Be Abolished, Urges Authorities To Stop Inciting ViolenceOne of the friends has said the officers physically assaulted Garavand, who later fell unconscious after entering a subway carriage. Officials have said Garavand suffered a sudden drop in blood pressure, fainted, and fell to the floor, hitting her head.
Still, Iranian law enforcement, the judiciary, and government-aligned media have expressed unequivocal support for the morality police, underscoring their commitment to punishing those who resist the hijab mandate.
While the protests have shown some signs of waning, resistance to the hijab is likely to increase, analysts say, as it is now seen as a symbol of the state's repression of women and the deadly crackdown on society.
Last month, Amini and the "Women, life, freedom" movement were awarded this year's Sakharov Prize, the European Parliament’s top rights award. That followed the awarding of the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize to jailed activist Narges Mohammadi, who has fought for women's rights for decades.