Tehran police launch campaign to keep women covered up

AFP: Tehran police chief Brigadier General Morteza Talaie has announced a new campaign to ensure women keep covered up in public in keeping with the rules of the Islamic republic, newspapers reported Tuesday. “The press will take firm action against those who disturb security and moral order with their behaviour and their clothing,” he was quoted as warning. AFP

TEHRAN – Tehran police chief Brigadier General Morteza Talaie has announced a new campaign to ensure women keep covered up in public in keeping with the rules of the Islamic republic, newspapers reported Tuesday.

“The press will take firm action against those who disturb security and moral order with their behaviour and their clothing,” he was quoted as warning.

He said 30 percent of complaints to police involved cases of women not covering up properly, with their hair not kept out of sight by a scarf, and “improper behaviour” by the young.

Iranian police issue the same warning each year in the run-up to summer and patrol areas where the young gather.

Talaie’s predecessor, General Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who has stepped down to contest the June 17 presidential election, said last year that women were behaving like “top models” on the streets of Tehran.

All women in Iran have to wear a scarf and the traditional chador, a robe which flows from head to foot, or a conservative coat to conceal their figure and hair from the eyes of men.

But young Iranians have been taking more and more liberties.