Iran Escalates Beach Surveillance Deploying 7,000 Police to Enforce Hijab

Iran is ramping up its hijab enforcement as summer approaches with the deployment of 7,000 police officers to the country’s northern beaches.

Deputy commander of the police force, Ghasem Rezaei announced that the forces are tasked with "controlling the beaches and recreation areas and maintaining order," particularly focusing on ensuring compliance with the nation’s mandatory hijab.

The police operation will place officers directly along the northern coastlines, with Rezaei warning that any “deviation” from the government-imposed norms will be met with legal consequences.

Every year, with the arrival of summer and the rising temperatures in Iran, the enforcement of hijab by the police intensifies.

Despite the government's strict enforcement of mandatory hijab, a movement of civil disobedience persists. Swathes of women are increasingly visible in public areas without a hijab, actively protesting against the restrictive mandates.

The commander-in-chief of the police force, Ahmadreza Radan, previously announced an electronic surveillance initiative for the northern beaches, signaling a broader crackdown to monitor and control beachgoers.

The intensified enforcement follows widespread protests in 2022 triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of police for not wearing her hijab properly.