Nope, #Iran has not abolished the #MoralityPolice, as Western media euphorically claim! Rather, it is an appeasement & diversion tactic of the regime after more than 2.5 months of #IranProtests & thus not to be mistaken as a concession: Here's why🧵
Iranian state media have circulated a prosecutor's statement from Sat. suggesting such a step. But there is no legal decision on the matter.
First of all, one should not forget: the rigid hijab/dress code is an indispensable pillar of the Islamic Republic, inseparable from its identity.
Rather, the morality police's approach may change, at least temporarily, e.g. being digitized with the help of facial-recognition surveillance cameras imported from China & also through fines, in order to ensure compliance with the hijab regulations.
This is also to prevent violent arrests as in the case of #MahsaAmini, as these produce images that could be relayed to the #UNHRC's (UN Human Rights Council) fact-finding mission - something Tehran is concerned about.
Moreover, the security forces have been on permanent duty since mid-Sep. & are suffering from exhaustion - this temporary measure is now also supposed to give them a breather from performing roadside checks against alleged "bad hijabis"...
... and to focus existing capacities more on the massive repression that is underway - also against the backdrop of the 3-day protest campaign in support of the #IranRevolution process announced to begin tomorrow.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
