Woman Whipped for Hijab

A 33-year-old Iranian woman, Roya Heshmati, received 74 lashes as a penalty for refusing to wear the hijab, defying Iran’s strict dress code. The judiciary’s Mizan Online website confirmed that the punishment was carried out in accordance with Sharia law for “violating public morals.”

Heshmati, reportedly of Kurdish origin, also faced a fine of 12 million rials (£225). She had posted a photo of herself online without the mandatory hijab. Whippings for dress code violations are uncommon, but there has been an increased crackdown on those defying the rules, particularly following anti-government protests in late 2022.

The demonstrations were triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, in custody for an alleged dress code violation. The protests saw women casting off or burning their headscarves in defiance. Officials intensified efforts to enforce

Hengaw, a Kurdish-focused rights group, identified Heshmati as being of Kurdish origins. Despite the lashes, she refused to cover her hair even as she was transported for the flogging. Heshmati was arrested in April for publishing a photo on social media without wearing a headscarf, according to her lawyer Maziar Tatai.

The Iranian government has taken measures to monitor and enforce the hijab law, installing surveillance cameras in public places and shutting down businesses violating the rules. The parliament has also discussed a bill proposing stricter penalties for breaching the dress code. The case of Roya Heshmati highlights the ongoing tension between authorities seeking to enforce conservative dress norms and individuals resisting such restrictions, especially after the heightened scrutiny that followed the anti-government protests.

_{Repurposed article originally published in Yahoo News}