An Iranian debate on the “Day of Chastity”

The occasion of the “National Hijab and Chastity Day”, which was approved by the authorities in Iran for the first time this year, has turned into a debate between it and civil society circles.

Rights activists defending women’s rights led a counter-campaign against what they described as the “forced veil” and defied the authorities by removing the veil in public places, on the occasion of yesterday.

Critics and activists see the establishment’s intensified efforts to impose the “forced veil” as part of a broader crackdown on the opposition amid growing discontent over economic hardships at home and increasing Western pressure on Iran from abroad over its controversial nuclear program.

Dozens of human rights activists said, in a joint statement, on Monday, that “the National Day of Hijab and Chastity is nothing but an excuse to target women and start a new campaign of repression against the Iranian people, especially women.”

In a show of civil disobedience, Iranians outside and inside the country posted a hashtag titled “#Hijab Without Hijab” on social media for days.

And spread videos of women taking off their veils while walking in the streets and others resisting the morality police. Reuters quoted the Fars news agency, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, as saying that several people were arrested on Monday. “Things like this add fuel to the fire,” said a former Iranian government official. People are already angry because of the high inflation and the increase in prices. They are very frustrated. Repression never works.” “The establishment fears a women’s revolution that is already starting today,” said human rights activist Masih Alinejad.