Opposition groups in Iran today (Tuesday) began protesting against modesty laws requiring the wearing of a hijab in the Islamic Republic in an organized effort dubbed the "hijab without a hijab" involving thousands of women and men across the country.
As part of the protest, dozens of women posted on social media videos of them removing the hijab.
The women were also joined by men holding a hijab or scarf in protest and identification.
Documentation has also surfaced on the internet of graffiti slogans painted on walls in the Iranian capital condemning the laws of modesty.
Protest in Iran: Women take off their hijab on the street
One of the organizations leading the protest is the exiled opposition organization "My Secret Freedom" of activist and journalist Messiah Alinjid, which manages to incite activists from the country to participate in the protests despite the huge risk of expressing a position contrary to that of the regime in Iran.
A Tehran resident who posted a video showing her face removed from her headdress wrote: "I was asked to blur my face, but I am not ready. I do not agree to hide who I am anymore. I will not let the Islamic Republic censor me anymore."
While important arbitrators in the Islamic world criticize the duty to wear the veil, in Iran last week President Ibrahim Raisi ordered the tightening of enforcement against violations of the country's modesty regulations, despite growing protests over the conduct of modesty guards in Iran.
At a meeting of the Supreme Council for Cultural Revolution, the president told attending ministers that "we have reports of various organizations working on issues related to modesty and wearing the hijab and they are working through foreign funding to promote the destruction of the mosque in Islamic society."
"The enemies of Iran and Islam are plotting to undermine the cultural cohesion and religious values that are the foundation of our society and they are doing so through various online and satellite channels," the Iranian president added.
"Necessary steps must be taken in this area, against this coordinated and organized attack, in a systematic and thorough manner."
The president instructed ministers and the executive to promote legislation and increase cooperation between law enforcement agencies in a way that would tighten chastity laws and make it easier for authorities to suppress those wearing the hijab.
It is a reversal of the country's previous government policy, which sought ways to ease the controversy surrounding the wearing of the hijab, which has become an open protest in the past decade.
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