Iran to launch 'operation cover-up'

[Snoshi]

Islamic republic's 'modesty guard' plans to boost operations as summer approaches, detain young women and men straying from strict Islamic dress codes

Iran has announced the launch of "Operation Cover-up" next week in attempt to control young men and women who have deviated from the country's Islamic dress codes and adopted "too Western" an appearance.

Deputy commander of the Iranian police force warned women that "the police will operate against women who dress like models in town. Women that are arrested will be taken to four centers, where they will receive guidance and advice. They will commit in writing not to dress in violation of the dress code again, and they will be released only after their families come to pick them up and bring them proper attire."

According to Iranian law, women must wear the hijab head covering, a veil to hide women's hair which constitutes a symbol of female modesty in Islam.

Each year the Iranian administration announces an "Operation Cover-up" ahead of summer, when the weather warms up and sleeves start getting shorter. The rest of the year, the "Modesty Guard", made up of a volunteer staff, patrols the streets and comments to women who do not maintain a sufficiently modest appearance.

In addition to the hijab, Iranian women are required to wear a long coat to conceal any trace of the outline of their figure.


Letting loose

In spite of the strict dress code, in recent years many women in Iran, especially in the larger cities, have been testing the limits and overlooking the laws, in particular regarding the head covering. Many women can be seen in Tehran's streets letting more and more hair out from under their head scarves and donning shorter, hip-length jackets and tight-fitting shirts.

The Islamic dress code also applies to non-Islamic women, as well as to tourists visiting Iran.

And not only women need be concerned, but men as well. The Tehran police commander announced that "the first phase of the operation, which starts on Saturday, will focus on women. The second phase will also deal with men who dress inappropriately."

Short pants, T-shirts with "harmful slogans" and chains with "certain ornamentation" are included in the list of forbidden male attire.

The goal of the operation, according to Tehran police, is to ensure "moral behavior in society."

The election of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June, 2005, raised expectations that the new administration would exhibit stricter determination in enforcing public dress codes.

Despite this, there have been no signs of a change of policy, and the government has noted on multiple occasions that it prefers to encourage the public to dress according to Islamic values in manners that avoid the use of force.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3390138,00.html

[Invisigoth]

Good for them. The more they oppress the increasingly young population, the more negative impact they are gonna face in the long-run. Let's hope they piss-off their population as much as possible.


My 2 cents

Inv

[Field_Gunner]

I thought that these laws only apply to muslims? or atleast thats what one of the iranian guys at work told me.

[WKD]

An article.



What? Iranians are even more free than those that live in the west. This must be zionist propaganda.

[Laworkerbee]

Good for them. The more they oppress the increasingly young population, the more negative impact they are gonna face in the long-run. Let's hope they piss-off their population as much as possible.


My 2 cents

Inv

X2.......................................

[MichaelF]

I imagine that this is less of a threat to Iranian society than the ~15% inflation that the Rial has been suffering for the last several years.

Glad to see that they are focusing on the important things...

Oh yes, I forgot. Protecting the money supply is -hard-.

Treating women like whores, now....that's easy.

[Snoshi]

By Frances Harrison
BBC News, Tehran

Two thousand young men in Iran have protested against new clothing curbs, reports say, amid growing discontent about a crackdown on un-Islamic dress.

Shiraz university students were angry about new rules banning sleeveless T-shirts, even inside all-male dorms.

The protest came as the judiciary head warned police that an excessively ferocious campaign could backfire.

Police say they stopped more than 1,300 women for dressing immodestly on the first day of the campaign in Tehran.

More than 100 women were arrested on Saturday; half of them had to sign statements promising to improve their clothing, the other half are being referred to court.

The focus of the new campaign is to stop women wearing tight overcoats that reveal the shape of their bodies or showing too much hair from beneath their headscarves.

However, young men have also been arrested for sporting wild hair styles or T-shirts considered immodest.

Local news agency reports say the protesting Shiraz students on Sunday night were calling for the resignation of the university chancellor.

Serious crackdown

There is always a crackdown at the start of summer as women start wearing more skimpy clothes because of the hot weather.

In past years the pressure quickly relaxed - headscarves become perched on the back of heads, while fashionable women in affluent north Tehran wear open-toed sandals, three-quarter length trousers and short skin-hugging overcoats.

The police complain that some young women strut the streets looking like fashion models - and it is not a bad description.

But this year the crackdown seems more serious.

Iranian television has broadcast nightly programmes warning women and young men with sleeveless T-shirts and spiky hair to be more careful about their dress.

The newspapers are full of pictures of women being arrested for their un-Islamic clothing, but foreign journalists have been prevented from filming it.

Backlash

The head of the Iranian judiciary, Ayatollah Shahrudi, has warned that a severe crackdown on un-Islamic dress could have the reverse effect.

Meanwhile, an MP has asked why the police should spend so much time arresting young people and filing court cases against them instead of fighting drug addiction and poverty.

Already taxi drivers say there are fewer women on the streets and it is clear most are dressing more conservatively.

It is not just the young and very fashionable who are being harassed this year, middle aged women and even foreign tourists are being cautioned.

One foreign journalist was stopped and the police complained the photograph in her press card was indecent, even though it was taken by the Ministry of Islamic Guidance.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6584789.stm

[kraf001]

Pictures from the operation:

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8602/ImageReports/8602020353/1_8602020353_L600.jpg
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[Snoshi]

Thanks for the pics.. Some of the Iranian chicks are hot.

[Pars]

Thanks for posting the pictures Kraf.

[Javehn]

Makes one proud of the achievements in the 20 century , progression of human and self-rights and all ....
Wel , at list they aren't shooting them or something of this sort .

[Abu_Elvis]

In the first morning of the action, 1,347 women have been "warned and given islamic guidance", Mehdi Ahmadi, chief of Teheran police told AFP. According to Iranian news agency Rooz, 117 women have been arrested and 59 stood trial. Those who were not arrested were fined $50, while average monthly income in iran is $100. Rather steep. What would that be in US? In israel it is like charging nearly $1000. For wearing a colored scarf, or showing a strand of your hair. No scarf at all gets you arrested and lashed.

But, young iranians are not pleased http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6584789.stm

No regime lasted long after it pissed off the young generation.

[Abu_Elvis]

Thanks for the pics.. Some of the Iranian chicks are hot.
Notice the pattern, ugly chicks arresting hot chicks p-)

[Pars]

No regime lasted long after it pissed off the young generation.

Thankfully they're digging their own grave.

[seraosha]

Thanks for the pics kraf001, I appreciate it.

[khukuri]

hahahaha aloooooooooolz give me a break. What do they think theyll achieve with this...