“Iranian woman, 33-year-old Roya Heshmati, faced a harsh penalty of 74 lashes for boldly refusing to wear the hijab, openly defying the strict dress code enforced in Tehran.
Accused of ‘encouraging permissiveness,’ Heshmati had been spotted multiple times without the mandated head covering, leading to her arrest and subsequent punishment.
The judiciary’s Mizan Online website confirmed the application of the 74 lashes, stating it was done “in accordance with the law and with sharia” due to her violation of public morals. In addition to the physical punishment, Heshmati was also ordered to pay a fine of 12 million rials (£225).
This extreme measure is a rare occurrence in the enforcement of the dress code, which mandates women to cover their neck and head since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. However, authorities have heightened their crackdown on those challenging these regulations, particularly following the surge of anti-government protests that began in late 2022.
The catalyst for these demonstrations was the tragic death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, arrested for an alleged breach of the dress code. The protest saw women discarding or burning their headscarves in defiance, leading to an increased defiance of the dress code.
Roya Heshmati, identified as of Kurdish origin by Hengaw, a Kurdish-focused rights group, has remained steadfast in her resistance. Even as the lashes struck her body, she reportedly whispered, ‘In the name of woman, in the name of life, dawn will come.’ Her refusal to cover her hair continued during her transportation for the flogging.
Heshmati’s legal troubles began in April when she was arrested for publishing a photo on social media without wearing a headscarf, according to her lawyer, Maziar Tatai. She faced additional charges of ‘not wearing the Muslim veil in public.’
The government’s response to the defiance has included the installation of surveillance cameras in public spaces to monitor hijab law violations, leading to the closure of businesses that fail to comply. Furthermore, Iran’s parliament is currently discussing a bill aimed at imposing stricter penalties for those who breach the dress code.”
🔴 Iranian woman whipped 74 times for refusing to wear hijab https://t.co/1bdhrQr5qH
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) January 7, 2024