A group of angry Iranians attacked the Islamic Republic’s so-called “morality police” in a Tehran suburb on February 15 when authorities detained two young women for not wearing the hijab, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Officers fired warning shots at the group in an attempt to disperse the crowd. Protesters were seen tearing off the door of one of the police vehicles and preventing them from taking the women away.
“Morality patrol police members had warned two young women who did not have proper hijab. Within a few minutes, a group of citizens gathered around to prevent the transfer of the two women [into custody],” a police official told state-run IRNA agency.
“When the two women left the car, the crowd also dispersed, and the issue was over,” the official added.
The so-called “morality police” – officially known as the Gasht-e Ershad, or guidance patrol – have been enforcing strict religious dress codes on women ever since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Under these laws, women are forced to wear a hijab, trousers, and a loose jacket while in public.
Video of the incident posted on social media shows a large crowd trying to prevent officers from driving the women away. A man can be heard shouting “Let her go!” before shots are fired.
It was the latest in a series of events where Iranians openly challenged the draconian laws of the mullah regime. In recent years, Iranian women have mounted opposition to the mandatory hijab rule by staging public demonstrations, which resulted in the arrest and disappearance of some of the women.
In 2013, Iranian Masih Alinejad started #MyStealthyFreedom, a social media movement opposed to the mandatory hijab. She now has millions of followers and encourages other women to share their moments of freedom on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms.
In February 2018, the Islamic Republic said it had arrested 29 women who removed their hijab at a series of protests against the law in Tehran.
To protect themselves from harsh punishment, many Iranian women use a smartphone app that warns users when a morality police patrol is in the area.
[Photo: My Stealthy Freedom / Facebook ]