Iran's Crackdown on Women Amid Regional Tensions

GS PAPER 2

INTERNATIONAL RELATION

Increased Repression in Iran:
- Iran intensifies repression with executions, arrests of dissidents, and heightened enforcement of obligatory hijab rules.
- The crackdown follows nationwide protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini and has entered a new phase amid regional tensions with Israel.
Resurgence of Morality Police:
- Activists report the return of the morality police, patrolling city squares and enforcing mandatory hijab rules.
- Tehran police chief announces the latest crackdown, codenamed Nour, targeting women deemed to have violated hijab rules.
Violent Enforcement Tactics:
- Videos on social media depict women being forcibly apprehended, with reports of police using electric shocks against them.
- The crackdown turns the streets into battlefields against women, according to rights activists.
Arrests and Executions:
- Dissidents and activists, including journalists and students, face arrests and detention for speaking out against repression.
- Executions continue, with at least 110 people executed this year alone, including a married couple sentenced to death for drug-related charges.
Opportunity for Regime Consolidation:
- Tehran uses the regional tensions as an opportunity to tighten its grip on dissent and instil fear in society.
- The regime aims to regain control lost since the 2022 protests, leveraging international attention on escalating tensions with Israel.