In brief
The United Nations has reported that Iran is leveraging technology, including drones and mobile apps, to identify and punish women not adhering to strict dress codes, amidst ongoing protests and systemic discrimination against women's rights.
Iran's authorities have ramped up their surveillance tactics, including the deployment of drones and a dedicated mobile application, to strictly enforce the hijab dress code, as detailed in a recent United Nations report. Investigators claim that Iranian security officials are employing what they describe as "state-sponsored vigilantism," encouraging citizens to utilize specialized apps to report women they witness violating dress mandates, particularly in public transport like taxis or ambulances. The report outlined a troubling trend towards increased monitoring through drones and surveillance cameras, specifically in Tehran and southern regions of Iran. Women who defy the hijab laws confront harsh repercussions, including imprisonment, physical assaults, and even sexual violence while in custody.The findings derive from the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has previously attributed the "physical violence" that resulted in the death of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman, directly to the government. Amini's death in 2022 while in custody of the morality police ignited widespread protests against the regime, yet authorities continue to suppress dissent with threats of violence and incarceration."Two-and-a-half years after the protests erupted in September 2022, women and girls face systemic discrimination across all legal frameworks and in practice, with particular focus on hijab enforcement," the report states. It emphasizes the regime's reliance on societal complicity for hijab compliance, which is framed as a civic duty.At institutions like Amirkabir University in Tehran, facial recognition technologies have been introduced to detect noncompliant women at entry points. Additionally, surveillance systems positioned on major highways target women who are not wearing the hijab. The Nazer mobile app, developed by the Iranian police, invites users to report women seen without a hijab in various public modes of transport, enabling the submission of details such as vehicle location, time, and license plate. Offenders receive warning texts about their infractions, and repeated violations could result in vehicle confiscation.Those compiling the report spoke with nearly 300 victims and witnesses, rigorously analyzing Iran's judicial system, which they claim lacks genuine independence. Reports of torture and intimidation of victims and their families were highlighted, alongside alarming instances of extrajudicial killings and sexual assault in custody.The findings will be presented to the Human Rights Council on March 18.
