Iran’s Mandatory Dress Code Meant To Instill Fear – UN Rapporteur

The UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights Situation in Iran has called for prompt establishment of investigative mechanism into human rights violations in Iran.

In a statement on Wednesday, Javaid Rehman said current investigations and domestic accountability channels had failed to meet the minimum standards of transparency, objectivity and impartiality, urgingan independent mechanism into all human rights violations leading up to and since the death of Jina Mahsa Amini, who died in hospital after being arrested by the morality police. 

He said that the Islamic Republic is monitoring, harassing, and sometimes beating women on a daily basis in the pretext of its mandatory dress code -- implemented through the morality police.“This is meant to instill an atmosphere of fear,” he noted.

“Chronic impunity and lack of redress for previous violations have culminated in today’s events as we see protests throughout the country calling for justice and accountability for Amini’s death but also demanding respect for fundamental socio-economic and political rights and particularly freedom of expression,” he added.

Also on Wednesday, a group of UN human rights experts condemned the killings and the crackdown by security forces in Iran on protesters, including alleged arbitrary arrests and detentions, gender-based and sexual violence, excessive use of force, torture, and enforced disappearances.

They also urged that the reports be thoroughly and independently investigated and those responsible held to account, adding, “An alarming number of protesters have already been detained and killed, many of whom are children, women and older persons. The Government must instruct police to immediately cease any use of excessive and lethal force and exercise restraint.”