Amnesty International Condemns Iran’s Mandatory Hijab Law as a Violation of Women’s Rights
Amnesty International has condemned Iran’s mandatory Hijab and Chastity Law, set to take effect on December 13, as “shameful.”
Amnesty International stated that the Hijab and Chastity Law, passed by the Iranian regime’s parliament, further erases the rights of women and girls under the Iranian regime and “intensifies” their oppression.
In a statement on Tuesday, December 10, the organization explained that this law, which according to Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of Parliament, will take effect on December 13, not only punishes women who do not comply with the mandatory hijab but also enables law enforcement and vigilante forces to commit violence against women without fear of legal consequences.
The law, comprising 74 articles, sentences women who fail to adhere to the regime’s dress code to penalties such as flogging, heavy fines, lengthy prison terms, travel bans, and deprivation of education and employment.
Amnesty International described the law as “shameful” and emphasized that even private companies failing to enforce the mandatory hijab would face punishment.
Amnesty International also noted the increasing resistance of women to the mandatory hijab following the 2022 protests and stated that under this law, any opposition to the hijab mandate, such as sending unveiled photos to foreign media, could be punished as “corruption on earth,” a charge that carries the death penalty.
The organization stressed that the intricate network of fines, prison sentences, and other harsh penalties outlined in this law indicates that the Iranian government seeks to control women through fear and economic pressure.
Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, stated that Iranian authorities aim to strengthen the “suffocating system” with this law.
“The international community must not stand idly by as Iranian authorities further codify repression and even resort to the death penalty to suppress dissent against compulsory veiling. They must use their leverage to press the Iranian authorities to withdraw this law and abolish compulsory veiling in law and practice. They must also pursue legal pathways to hold Iranian officials accountable for committing widespread and systematic human rights violations against women and girls through the implementation of compulsory veiling.”
It is worth noting that the regime’s parliament passed the Hijab and Chastity bill on September 20, 2023, a year after the death of Mahsa Zhina Amini and the widespread protests that followed.
This bill, which includes severe punishments and numerous fines for opponents of the mandatory hijab, was approved by a special committee. Its passage sparked widespread opposition from human rights advocates and civil activists on social media.
Nevertheless, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Parliament, announced on November 28 that the Hijab and Chastity law would be implemented starting December 13. He explained that the law delineates the responsibilities of various institutions regarding the hijab.
Amnesty International had previously described the passage of this law in September as a “vile assault” on women’s rights under the Iranian regime.
3,000 Prominent Figures Support “No to Execution” Campaign in Iran
On Human Rights Day, Iran Human Rights Monitor announced that 3,000 global leaders, including former presidents, ministers, ambassadors, UN officials, Nobel laureates, and human rights organizations, have endorsed the call to end executions in Iran. This coincides with the “No to Executions Tuesdays” campaign, initiated by political prisoners in 26 Iranian prisons.
The statement underscores concerns that Iranian authorities use executions as a political tool to instill fear and suppress uprisings. Signatories also support opposition leader Maryam Rajavi’s steadfast commitment to abolishing the death penalty, as outlined in her Ten-Point Plan for Iran’s future. Rajavi reaffirmed this call at the International Jurists’ Conference on August 24, 2024, in Paris.
According to Amnesty International, Iran accounted for 74% of global executions in 2023, with 342 reported since the new president assumed office. October 2023 alone witnessed 152 executions, including 10 women. Among the executed were political dissidents like Reza Rasaei, detained during the November 2022 uprising in Shahriar, Tehran province.
A March 2024 report by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran (FFMI) highlighted summary trials leading to death sentences, with Iranian authorities expediting executions under political directives. The FFMI’s findings classify these violations as crimes against humanity, encompassing murder, imprisonment, torture, and sexual violence.
Professor Javaid Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, reiterated these concerns in his July 2024 report, describing the 1988 massacre of 30,000 political prisoners as genocide. Rehman noted evidence of mass killings and torture against members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), conducted with genocidal intent. The global community’s prolonged inaction has emboldened Iran’s regime to continue its oppressive practices.
Since early 2024, political prisoners across 20 Iranian prisons have participated in weekly hunger strikes as part of the “No to Executions” campaign. The movement has gained traction internationally, with over 1,500 prominent figures from 78 countries joining the call. Supporters include over 450 parliament members, former leaders, Nobel laureates, ambassadors, and human rights experts.
Maryam Rajavi’s leadership remains central to this campaign, with her vision for a future Iran anchored in justice and human rights. The “No to Execution” movement reflects growing global solidarity against Iran’s use of executions and the urgent need to halt these human rights violations.
Urban Fringe Slums in Iran Is Causing Environmental Problems
With the rise of urban fringe slums in Iran as a result of soaring housing prices, official statistics indicate that there are now more than six million marginalized residents in the country. The head of the Environmental Protection Organization states that marginalization in Tehran and other major cities has caused environmental problems.
Sheena Ansari, head of the Environmental Protection Organization, during a panel discussion at Sharif University, identified migration from small towns to the peripheries and outskirts of Tehran and other major cities as a factor causing environmental issues.
In the past decade, the emergence of environmental issues following the increase in marginalized populations has been frequently highlighted. In July 2021, a conference on this topic was held in Eslamshahr, which was historically one of the hubs of marginalization in Tehran.
The Social Studies Office of the regime’s Majlis (parliament) Research Center also published a report in December 2022 titled “Marginalization in Iran: Approaches, Policies, and Actions.”
According to this report, in 2021, there were 6,187,105 people living in city outskirts across the country.
The report indicates that the average growth rate of marginalization was about 7% between 1978 and 1981. In the subsequent period, from 1981 to 1996, the marginalized population grew at an average of 11%.
The growth of marginalization reached 19% between 1996 and 2006, and between 2006 and 2018, it increased to approximately 23%.
As a result, the current population of marginalized residents living in informal settlements nationwide has reached about 6.2 million.
The reasons for the growth of marginalization in earlier periods included factors such as the industrialization of agriculture before the 1978 revolution and the impacts of the war during the 1980s and early 1990s.
However, in the latter half of the 2010s, the cause of marginalization changed. In March 2023, Baitollah Sattarian, a faculty member at the University of Tehran, stated that in major cities, due to pressure in the housing market, residents of certain neighborhoods can no longer afford to remain there and are forced to move to smaller spaces or city outskirts, often resorting to informal housing. This was also confirmed by Ahmad Vahidi, the Minister of Interior in Ebrahim Raisi’s government.
Car Manufacturers, Aging Vehicles, Fuel Quality: What Is the Cause of Air Pollution in Iran
Officials of the Iranian regime state that 60% of the air pollution in Iran, which kills 25,000 people annually, is caused by motorized transportation. Could the main cause of air pollution be the non-implementation of the Clean Air Act, the role of car manufacturers, the failure to scrap aging vehicles, or “petrochemical gasoline”?
According to statistics, since 2016, the capital has had clean air only 15% of the year, with residents breathing polluted air almost six days a week.
The annual death toll attributed to air pollution nationwide is reported to be between 20,000 to 30,000, with 7,000 in Tehran alone.
The annual financial damage caused by air pollution in Iran is estimated at $12 billion. The Iranian regime is facing an environmental crisis, of which air pollution is only a part.
Most major cities suffer from dust storms in the first half of the year and “temperature inversion” as the weather cools in the second half.
While the government prioritized passing and enforcing the so-called “Chastity and Hijab” law earlier this year, the Clean Air Act, passed in 2017, has been sidelined for nearly seven years.
The Role of Aging Public Transportation and Car Manufacturers
Alireza Raisi, the Deputy Minister of Health of the Iranian regime, stated on December 9 that 60% of the country’s air pollution is related to the motorized transportation system. According to Raisi, 11 million out of 12 million motorcycles and 2.5 million out of 14 million vehicles in the country are aging. Non-aging vehicles in the country are mainly produced by Iran Khodro and SAIPA, the duopoly car manufacturers. According to Ruhollah Lak Aliabadi, a Majlis (parliament) member from Doroud, “They care neither for people’s lives, the environment, nor air pollution.” Although officials and some media outlets are discussing the share of vehicles in causing air pollution, coinciding with rumors of fuel price increases, it seems that the environmental mega-crisis in Iran cannot be solely attributed to transportation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when transportation in cities decreased unprecedentedly due to travel restrictions, air pollution persisted. The other side of this crisis lies with power plants and industries. On December 10, the state-run Sazandegi newspaper highlighted the roles of sanctions and the “policy of keeping gasoline prices low” as factors contributing to Tehran’s air pollution. In May 2024, before the death of Ebrahim Raisi, the government invested $3 billion in producing a type of naphtha known as “petrochemical gasoline.” This product is much cheaper than real gasoline but also significantly more polluting.Rising Tensions Within IRGC After Assad’s Downfall
The British newspaper The Telegraph has reported on growing discord among the ranks of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) over the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
According to the newspaper, IRGC commanders are angered by the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government and blame each other for its downfall and the subsequent loss of the Iranian regime’s influence in the region.
Two IRGC officials, quoted by the newspaper, stated that no one is willing to take responsibility for this matter.
An IRGC official told The Telegraph, “No one expected Assad to flee, and the reason for their interest in him was not personal but to maintain proximity to Israel and Hezbollah.”
In addition to intervening in the Syrian civil war, the Iranian regime has spent billions of dollars to support Assad’s regime.
Previously, Bahram Parsaei, a former Iranian parliament member, wrote on X: “While I was in parliament, Syria and Bashar al-Assad’s debt to Iran was $30 billion, which had not been approved by parliament, contrary to Article 80 of the Constitution.”
The Telegraph pointed out in its report that under Bashar al-Assad’s rule, Syria was the main route for Iran to supply weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Another IRGC official told The Telegraph that the Iranian regime’s military officials are now focusing on how to escape this deadlock.
He added, “Some within the IRGC blame Esmail Qaani, the commander of the Quds Force.”
The IRGC official said, “No one dares admit it, but he did nothing to prevent the loss of Iran’s interests and merely observed the events from Tehran.”
The first IRGC official referenced rumors of the Iranian regime’s leader Ali Khamenei ordering the replacement of Qaain, stating, “Many are calling for his replacement.”
He added, “Khamenei recently summoned IRGC commanders multiple times as rebel forces opposing Assad advanced toward Damascus.”
The Assad regime was a central part of what Iran calls the “Axis of Resistance” in the Middle East, and its fall has significantly weakened the Iranian regime’s regional influence.
The French news agency AFP, in an analysis, referenced the “unimaginable” images of Assad’s opponents entering the Iranian regime’s embassy in Damascus, discussing the destruction of this “key link in the Axis of Resistance,” and added that the Iranian regime is trying to adjust to Syria’s new reality.
France’s Channel 24 also aired footage showing Assad’s opponents in the Iranian regime’s embassy in Damascus, including torn images of Ruhollah Khomeini, Ali Khamenei, Qassem Soleimani, and Hassan Nasrallah, describing it as a “turning point.”
Qarchak Prison One of the Darkest Symbols of Human Rights Violations in Iran
A new report by the Iranian Human Rights Organization sheds light on the abysmal conditions of Qarchak Prison, near Varamin.
According to the Iranian Human Rights Organization, the wards of Qarchak Prison are essentially repurposed poultry sheds. For years, they have been used to house female prisoners, including political detainees, without adhering to any standards.
The report states that Qarchak Prison in Varamin not only violates global standards but also disregards the most basic principles of human dignity.
The Iranian Human Rights Organization reports that women in Qarchak Prison (southeast of Tehran) are held in extremely cramped spaces, without adequate ventilation or sufficient light. They endure unsafe drinking water, poor-quality food, inadequate health and medical services, and humiliating, gender-based treatment as part of their daily suffering.
Originally converted from a poultry farm to a men’s addiction treatment center, this facility was later repurposed as a women’s prison. However, no significant structural changes were made. The wards lack windows, and when the iron doors of the exercise yards are closed, the only visible scenery is walls.
Many prisoners are deprived of sleeping space due to severe overcrowding and a lack of basic facilities.
On average, between 1,500 and 2,000 women are incarcerated in this prison most months of the year. Each hall in Qarchak Prison is designed to hold fewer than 100 individuals, but they usually house over 150, and at times, this number has reached 600, leaving prisoners without even floor space to sleep.
According to the report, poor hygiene conditions, lack of facilities, and harsh punitive measures have turned Qarchak Prison into an “exile zone for many female political and civil prisoners.”
The Iranian Human Rights Organization warned that the existence of such facilities, especially in the 21st century, is a stark reminder that justice and human dignity are still sacrificed in many parts of the world. It emphasized the urgent need to close Qarchak Prison and transfer all detainees to facilities meeting minimum international standards.
Prisoners reported the abundance of pests and vermin in their living areas, including cockroaches, mice, salamanders, lizards, water bugs, and even venomous tarantulas.
Prisoners stated that the prison water is undrinkable and, if not boiled and purified, causes various gastrointestinal and kidney diseases.
Political prisoners who were temporarily exiled to this prison reported that the water is unfit even for bathing.
A political prisoner recounted developing severe eczema due to bathing with the mineral-laden water of Qarchak Prison, requiring about a year of treatment after release.
The report revealed that Qarchak Prison lacks a water purification system. Women, many of whom have no financial means, are forced to buy overpriced bottled water from the prison store for drinking.
Moreover, the poor-quality tap water is frequently cut off during the hot season.
Due to frequent water outages, prison authorities turn off the evaporative coolers in the wards, creating unbearable heat that often escalates psychological tensions and severe conflicts among inmates.
The Iranian Human Rights Organization reported that each hall, housing an average of 150 prisoners, has at most three or four toilets, which lack proper sewage disposal systems.
Sewage overflow on the floors attracts insects and creates toxic odors, leading to respiratory issues for prisoners.
The issue of inadequate sanitary facilities affects not only prisoners but also visitors, who have no access to toilets despite traveling long distances.
Despite the high number of sick inmates, medical visits are severely limited, with a maximum of five prisoners per ward being seen by a doctor.
Ophthalmologists and dentists rarely visit the prison, and dental care, apart from extractions, must be paid for by the patients themselves.
The report added that the prison’s medical laboratory cannot perform most tests, and if prisoners are referred to external medical centers, they must cover the costs themselves.
A political prisoner reported that in several instances where inmates working in the kitchen suffered severe burns from boiling water, the authorities refused to transfer them to a hospital, instead prescribing painkillers and burn ointments before sending them back to their wards.
While authorities are extremely restrictive in prescribing essential medications for prisoners, they frequently distribute sedatives and painkillers, using them as a means to pacify inmates.
The principle of separating prisoners based on the nature of their crimes is not observed, and most political prisoners are currently housed in Ward Seven alongside dangerous inmates.
Additionally, addicts and inmates with infectious diseases, including HIV and hepatitis B, are not segregated from other prisoners.
Tourists Avoiding Iran Out of Security Concerns
Mohammad Ali Ashraf Vaqefi, a member of the “Iran Tour Operators Association,” stated that the arrival of tourists to Iran has been “almost halted” and attributed this to the lack of a “sense of security” for foreign tourists.
Ashraf Vaqefi, the former vice president of the Iran Tour Operators Association, told the state-run Khabar Online website that “currently, only tourists from Arab countries, especially Iraq, are traveling to Iran.”
This member of the “Tour Operators” community emphasized that “at present, almost no European or American tourist groups are traveling to Iran, and the tourist market is restricted to Russians and Chinese.” He added that even these numbers have “significantly declined compared to the past.”
Ashraf Vaqefi pointed out that “one of our main challenges is the sense of security among foreign tourists” and noted that although Iran is “objectively” safe, “foreign tourists do not feel secure.”
Without addressing the government’s policies of imposing cultural and social restrictions and ideological lifestyle on society, he attributed “regional incidents and events” to causing “negative propaganda” against Iran, which has “directly and indirectly” affected the country.
He reported that travel agencies “are not interested in operating in Iran,” and the spring tourist season in Iran has already been “lost.”
In March, Moslem Shojaei, the then acting director of the Foreign Tourism Marketing and Development Office of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Tourism, reported a sharp decline in incoming tours to Iran and admitted that the ministry’s plans to attract Chinese tourists had also failed.
The then chairman of the board of the Professional Association of Iranian Tourist Guides also reported on February 4 that 30% of tour guides had left the industry or emigrated from the country.
According to data from the World Tourism Organization, the total number of incoming tourists to Iran in 2023 decreased by more than 37% compared to 2019.
Multiple factors, including the lack of service infrastructure, unconventional social restrictions, Iran’s inclusion on the FATF blacklist, and the lack of governmental determination to attract foreign tourists, have contributed to the decline of Iran’s tourism sector in recent years.
Mounting Concern In Europe Over Iran’s Nuclear Program
The European members of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) issued a joint statement condemning Iran’s recent actions to accelerate the production of high-enriched uranium, as reflected in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report.
According to the statement published on Tuesday, December 10, on the websites of the foreign ministries of Britain, France, and Germany, these three countries expressed concern over the increase in the number of centrifuges and Iran’s preparations to install new ones.
The IAEA’s recent report highlighted a significant acceleration in the enrichment of uranium to 60% purity at Iran’s Fordow facility.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated on December 6 that Iran is increasing its production of 60% enriched uranium by at least eightfold.
The three European JCPOA members also referred to their meeting last week with Iran’s nuclear negotiation team regarding its nuclear program and sanctions, emphasizing that both sides reiterated their commitment to constructive dialogue and engagement.
They noted that during these talks, it was stressed that Iran’s actions further hollow out the JCPOA and increase its stockpile of enriched uranium, which lacks any credible civilian justification.
The statement urged Iran to reverse its recent actions and immediately halt its nuclear escalation.
In a confidential report on Friday, the IAEA specified that Iran plans to raise its monthly production of 60% enriched uranium at Fordow to over 34 kilograms, up from the previous rate of six kilograms per month at its two nuclear sites, including Fordow.
On November 22, the IAEA Board of Governors condemned the expansion of Iran’s nuclear activities, issuing a resolution demanding Tehran’s immediate cooperation with the agency and instructing the Director General to prepare a “comprehensive report” on Iran.
In response to this censure resolution, Iran announced it would activate advanced centrifuges.
Meanwhile, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Matt Miller, responding to a journalist’s question yesterday about concerns over Iran moving toward nuclear weapons amidst its regional position weakening, said, “We remain concerned, but the United States is committed to preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb.”
Schools Closed in Several Cities Across Iran
Schools in several cities across Iran were closed and shifted to online classes due to severe air pollution. Simultaneously, reports have emerged regarding the reasons and circumstances of the resumption of mazut (fuel oil) burning at three power plants.
Local authorities in various provinces of Iran announced that schools in dozens of cities would hold online classes on Tuesday, December 10.
In Khuzestan Province, schools in 17 cities were declared closed. In recent days, air quality in some cities of this province has been in the “red status,” and on Monday, schools in 19 cities of Khuzestan were also closed.
In Isfahan Province, schools in 12 cities were announced to be online for Tuesday and Wednesday.
In East Azerbaijan Province, schools in Tabriz and urban areas of four other cities were declared closed for Tuesday.
In other provinces, cities such as Qazvin, Arak, Urmia, Abyek, and Alborz also announced closures for all or some school levels.
Air quality in Tehran was in “red status” on Monday. Despite families waiting until the evening, no announcement was made about whether schools would be online or in-person the following day.
Finally, on Monday night, state television reported, citing Tehran’s governorate, that the air pollution emergency committee had not convened, and therefore, schools in the capital would hold in-person classes on Tuesday.
In recent days, some citizens have criticized the late announcements regarding school closures or continuations.
On Monday evening, Tehran’s Air Quality Control Company reported an air quality index of 158 for the capital, indicating “red status and unhealthy for all age groups.”
Tehran’s governorate stated that the air pollution emergency committee would decide on Tuesday whether schools would be closed or open on Wednesday and Thursday.
Uncertainty about mazut burning in power plants
The intensification of air pollution in various Iranian cities comes amidst controversy over the resumption of mazut burning in some power plants. Last month, the government of Iranian regime’s President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that mazut burning would be halted at three power plants in Arak (Shazand), Karaj, and Isfahan to “protect public health.” However, a few days ago, Sedigheh Torabi, an official from Iran’s Environmental Protection Organization, confirmed reports about the resumption of mazut burning at these three power plants and said the organization intends to file complaints against the “violating ministries.” Nevertheless, according to environmental journalist Zeynab Rahimi, the resumption of mazut burning by the Oil and Energy Ministries was authorized by the Supreme National Security Council. In recent years, the reason cited for resorting to mazut burning for power plant fuel was a “gas shortage.” However, according to a recent report by the Parliamentary Research Center, there is currently a shortage not only of gas and diesel but also of mazut itself.Bashar al-Assad’s Actions Cost Iran’s Regime Dearly
The Financial Times, citing a source within the Iranian government, reported that Tehran had lost its trust in Bashar al-Assad long ago.
The source told the Financial Times, “Bashar al-Assad‘s inaction cost us dearly. He aligned himself with regional actors who promised him a future that never materialized.”
According to the report, Tehran had been “disappointed” with Bashar al-Assad for over a year. Some considered him an obstacle and a burden, while others labeled him a traitor.
The newspaper quoted its source saying that in a recent meeting with Abbas Araghchi, Bashar al-Assad had stated that his forces’ withdrawal from Aleppo was “tactical.” However, Iran’s foreign minister responded that Iran was no longer in a position to send additional forces to support him.
Meanwhile, Abbas Araghchi stated during a televised interview on Sunday night that Bashar al-Assad had not requested military assistance from Tehran.
In the past 24 hours, following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government, harsher criticisms of him have emerged in Iranian media.
For instance, on Sunday night, the state-run Iranian TV news channel aired a program in which an expert named Asghar Zarei harshly criticized Bashar al-Assad, mentioning “the troubles he caused” in his dealings with Iran.
In an interview with state TV, Zarei stated, “Rebuilding Iran’s position will be very challenging,” and added, “We must ensure that this does not happen in Iraq or Yemen.”
The Financial Times also described Assad’s fall, after his family’s over five-decade rule over Syria, as a devastating blow to Iran’s foreign policy.
Tehran has, for decades, based its strategy on the “Axis of Resistance” against the U.S. and Israel, utilizing a network of proxy forces across the region.
Syria was a key link in this chain, serving as a gateway for financing and arming Hezbollah in Lebanon, Shia militias in Iraq, and the Houthis in Yemen. This link has now been severed with Damascus falling into the hands of Assad’s opposition.
However, a senior Israeli official told the Financial Times that Tel Aviv does not expect Iran’s influence in its backyard to disappear easily.
