Iran: a woman prosecuted for "insulting" the Muslim veil

An Iranian woman is being sued for "

" the Muslim veil after she threw her headscarf on the ground at a public event.

“

,” Tasnim news agency reported.

A short video of the incident, which went viral and aired by Hamshahri, a local Tehran daily, shows a woman leaving a podium and throwing her headscarf to the floor to the applause of the congregation.

Since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Iranian law has required all women to wear a veil covering their head and neck, and concealing their hair.

Iran is rocked by protests sparked by the September 16 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.

This young Kurd had been arrested by the morality police for an alleged violation of the dress code for women.

After the start of the protest, more and more women were seen bareheaded in public, especially in large cities, or removing their headscarves during demonstrations.

But few are those prosecuted by the Judicial Authority, which however announced on January 10 that it wanted to reapply a law providing for severe sanctions - such as exile - for people who do not respect the obligation to wear the veil.

In recent months, the justice system has closed several cafes, restaurants and pharmacies for welcoming unveiled customers.