Renewed dress code enforcement leads to Tehran arrest wave

Jun 15, 2011, 16:50 GMT

Tehran - A large number of women and men were detained Wednesday as Tehran police intensified a crackdown on conformity with Islamic dress codes, witnesses from several parts of the capital said.

In several of Tehran's squares, police and vice units stopped women for outfits that were deemed un-Islamic. Many were transferred to police stations for temporary detainment, witnesses said.

'My daughter was just allowed to call and tell me that she was arrested and detained in a police station until it becomes clear what the verdict against her will be,' said Taraneh, a 48-year-old architect from Tehran.

Her husband has rushed to the police station to see how he could secure the release of their daughter, she added.

Another witness said that police also stopped cars with young men and women and demanded their marriage certificate. Those without any proof of legal marriage were held for investigation pending contact with their parents.

Couples without any legal documents are essentially not allowed to appear in public. Offenders can be punished with cash fines and notification to the usually unaware parents.

Several witnesses also said that vice units invaded some private companies in Tehran to check whether female employees were observing the Islamic dress codes.

Some young men were also seen being transferred to police stations because of their outfits and hairstyles.

Deputy Police Chief Ahmad-Reza Radan had said the latest controls will extend to men as well as women.

Police and vice units usually start their crackdowns in the summer season, when women wear lighter clothing due to temperatures that can reach nearly 40 degrees.

Radan said loose scarves, tight coats, Bermuda-style pants and going without socks are absolutely taboo for women. Hairstyles and clothing for Iranian men influenced by Western culture have also been added to the list, he said.

Neckties and necklaces are also not viewed favourably by authorities.

Raising dogs, regarded as unclean in Islam, has not yet been officially banned, but is considered by clergy to be un-Islamic.

Residents of urban areas are not allowed to take their dogs to public places like parks, and have to keep them within their own homes.

All women in Iran, including foreigners, are expected to adhere to the Islamic dress code of gowns or long coats that mask their figures and scarves to hide their hair. Nevertheless, many women in Tehran and other large cities often ignore strict observation of the rules.

The women's dress code has been a controversial issue in Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Official attempts to force women to fully respect the code have so far been futile.

During the eight-year presidency of reformist Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005), the issue was ignored, with the effect of encouraging women to adopt new and far more daring fashion styles.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has several times voiced his own opposition to any social crackdowns, but he has had to give in to demands from clergy to renew the fight against what they call 'Western cultural invasion.'