Iran establishes Tehran court for ‘moral security’ as it tightens monitoring of hijab compliance

Iran is establishing a new prosecutor's office in Tehran dedicated to "moral security," aimed at prosecuting violations and crimes against public morality. Tehran Prosecutor Ali Salehi announced the initiative, which will specifically address issues such as hijab non-compliance and online content critical of the government. The new office will also monitor cyberspace for "immoral content."

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Today, the Special Prosecutor's Office for Moral Security in Tehran is seriously following up on issues and cases in this area with its concerned judges; the monitoring unit located in this prosecutor's office is also continuously reviewing content published in cyberspace so that legal action can be taken against those who publish immoral content.

According to recordings released by Iranian media, Salehi stated that the office's initial actions will include measures against stores selling "unconventional clothing" and intensified monitoring of cyberspace. The office is reportedly to be staffed by 12 judges. This announcement comes amid a noticeable increase in the presence of morality police and heightened street harassment targeting women perceived to be violating Iran's strict compulsory dress code, including those with exposed hair or wearing short sleeves.

Salehi claimed the office had already facilitated the arrest of two influencers for allegedly mocking religious ceremonies online. He also detailed how an animal-rights influencer was reportedly detained for using a religious song in a video featuring stray dogs. The prosecutor's office has also compelled several social media users to publish apology videos for posts supporting an exiled crown prince or commemorating Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died in 2022 after being detained by morality police for improper hijab wear.

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In this regard, recently, following the publication of an offensive video regarding the Arbaeen ceremony of Husseini in cyberspace by a woman and a man, the issue was immediately placed on the agenda of the Tehran Prosecutor's Office, and by order of the judicial authority, their page in cyberspace was blocked, and the defendants were arrested and detained.

Despite these actions, the Iranian legal network Dadbaan has insisted that "merely publishing content in cyberspace or choosing a type of attire cannot, without the existence of explicit legal provisions and the fulfillment of the elements of a crime, serve as the basis for detention, blocking accounts, or imposing" penalties. This statement questions the legal basis for the prosecutor's office's actions.

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merely publishing content in cyberspace or choosing a type of attire cannot, without the existence of explicit legal provisions and the fulfillment of the elements of a crime, serve as the basis for detention, blocking accounts, or imposing