In Iran, the police resume monitoring the wearing of the veil in cars

Since the death on September 16 of Mahsa Amini, 22, following her arrest for alleged violation of the strict dress code for women, Iran has faced significant unrest.

Even though the morality police who arrested the activist in September have stopped arresting women walking bareheaded in the streets and taking them to the police station, activists remain skeptical.

VIDEO.

Iranian climber takes off her veil in a competition, her house destroyed

Because the "police have started the new stage of the Nazer-1 program

across the country," a "senior police official" told the Fars news agency.

Concretely, "it should be mentioned that the Nazer-1 concerns the absence of hijab in cars" with the police sending a text message to the offender, he added.

The message is as follows: “The absence of the veil has been observed in your car.

It is necessary to respect the norms of society and to be careful not to repeat this act” of removing the veil.

It remains to be seen what happens if this action is repeated?

In a first version which has since been deleted, the message warned that the offender was exposing herself "to legal or judicial consequences".

“2023, the year of freedom and justice”

However, activists want to believe that the year 2023 will be that of the "victory" of the demonstrators by calling for the fall of the Tehran regime, weakened by demonstrations.

“By organizing and showing solidarity, 2023 will be the year of victory for the Iranian nation.

The year of freedom and justice in Iran”, declared these opponents, leading personalities in the fields of culture, human rights or even the sports world in exile on social networks.

Among the Iranian opponents who posted the message, is the actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi, crowned in Cannes in 2022, the son of the deposed shah Reza Pahlavi or the influential dissident Masih Alinejad, who lives in the United States.

But also the Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi or the former footballer Hamed Ali Karimi.

However, the repression of the regime is still very present.

According to a latest report from Iran Human Rights (IHR), an Oslo-based NGO, at least 476 people have been killed by security forces since September 16.

About 14,000 people have been arrested, according to the UN.

Iranian officials say hundreds of people were killed in the "riots" including dozens of members of the security forces.

In addition, justice announced that it had sentenced 11 people to capital punishment for their role in the protest.

Activists estimate that this figure is twice as high… Two death row inmates, aged 23, have already been executed, found guilty of killing or injuring police or paramilitaries during the protests.

Journalist Keyvan Samimi still behind bars

For his part, the Iranian activist and journalist Keyvan Samimi, imprisoned since December 2020, is still in detention, said his family when the reformist daily Shargh had reported his release.

The 73-year-old was sentenced to three years in prison for "conspiracy against national security".

The journalist was allowed to return home in February 2022 due to health problems but was sent back to prison in May after being accused of activities against national security with a message of support for the protest movement during his provisional release.