Women in Iran continue to face severe violence from police forces for not adhering to the mandatory hijab.
Arezou Badri, a 31-year-old mother of two and saleswoman, was shot by police officers on the evening of 22 July in Noor City, Mazandaran Province. After finishing her workday, Arezou’s car was stopped by police, who opened fire, hitting her in the back. The gunshot left her paralyzed and severely damaged her lungs. Despite undergoing two surgeries, Arezou remains in critical condition, with specialists warning that her chances of regaining the ability to walk are slim.
The car Arezou was in had previously been issued a ‘confiscation order‘ due to her non-compliance with the mandatory hijab law.
Following the incident, the Iranian police confirmed the shooting, but denied that the hijab was the reason for stopping the car, instead linking it to an alleged theft.
A member of Arezou’s family told Farsi Independent: “The military and security authorities continue to lie with complete arrogance, claiming the shooting was not related to the hijab but occurred because she fled from a police checkpoint. This is false. After Arezou and her friend ignored a hijab warning, the officers chased them and opened fire on the car and its passengers.”
According to a human rights organisation, the family are under severe pressure from security agencies to provide a “forced confession” on government media about what happened.
Amnesty International has called for a thorough investigation into the shooting of Arezou Badri and has questioned the police’s claims about what caused the incident. The organisation emphasised that the shooting of Badri highlights the urgent need to abolish mandatory hijab laws and address the impunity enjoyed by those responsible for enforcing them.
Reports from Iran indicate a significant increase in police presence and patrol cars since the election of Masoud Pezeshkian as Iran’s president. This build up is reportedly aimed at suppressing women who oppose the mandatory hijab. Iskandar Momeni, Pezeshkian’s choice for Minister of Interior, is a staunch supporter of compulsory hijab and harsh measures against those who challenge the Islamic Republic.
Since the ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi’ (Woman, Life, Freedom) uprising in 2022, many women have been killed by police for not observing obligatory hijab. Notable cases include Armita Garavand in Tehran, alongside Negar Karimian and Anahita Amirpour in Lorestan province.
