Iran Implements High-Tech Surveillance to Enforce Hijab Laws

A new UN report highlights Iran's use of drones and mobile apps for monitoring women's hijab compliance, treating violations as civic responsibilities. Security measures lead to severe repercussions for violators.

Iran is intensifying its efforts to enforce the mandatory hijab for women through high-tech surveillance and public reporting mechanisms, according to a recent United Nations report. The investigation unveils that Iranian security forces are employing drones and specialized mobile applications to empower citizens to report women who fail to adhere to the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code.

The state has fostered what the UN describes as "state-sponsored vigilantism," encouraging individuals to utilize certain apps to inform on perceived violations occurring in public transit, including taxis and ambulances. This strategy has incited fear among women, who risk severe penalties, such as detention, physical violence, and sexual assault in custody if they defy the hijab laws.

The report highlights that two and a half years following the protests initiated by the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022—a victim of the morality police—women in Iran still endure systemic discrimination and violent enforcement of hijab rules. The new measures also involve deploying facial recognition technology at university gates to identify those not wearing the hijab, as well as surveillance cameras positioned along major roadways.

Additionally, the Nazer app is reportedly being utilized by Iranian police, allowing designated users to report instances of non-compliance. Reports can include detailed information such as vehicle license plates, leading to notifications sent to car owners and potential impounding of vehicles.

The UN's investigative team conducted interviews with approximately 300 victims and closely examined Iran’s legal practices, which they claim lack independence. They documented numerous accounts of torture and intimidation against victims and their families. The findings will be shared with the Human Rights Council in March, emphasizing the urgent need for international attention to the ongoing human rights abuses faced by women in Iran.