‘No Hijab’ Is Not Moral Offense, 74 Lashes On Iranian Woman Is

Iran witnessed the brutal whipping of Roya Heshmati, a 23-year-old woman, subjected to 74 lashes by the police for what was deemed a violation of public morals. She was also asked to pay a fine of 12 million rials (around $25) for not wearing the Muslim veil in public.The judiciary has supported the whippings as done in accordance with the law. It said that Heshmati was punished for breaching the dress code and violating public morals by not covering her head in the streets.

The incident has ignited a wave of global outrage, prompting activists and political commentators to condemn the inhumane punishment meted out to Heshmati.

How The Iranian Judiciary Defended the Whippings

Roya Heshmati's ordeal began when she shared a picture of herself on social media, boldly walking in Tehran without a headscarf, a gesture seen as an act of defiance against the country's strict dress code. Heshmati, a vocal critic of Iran’s controversial hijab laws, was arrested in April for posting a picture of herself without a headcover. Her ordeal didn't end with the shocking lashes; she was initially sentenced to 13 years in prison and fined, but the appeals court dropped the prison term.

The judiciary, as reported by Mizan, accused her of encouraging permissiveness and having alleged links to organize groups outside Iran, challenging the hijab rules, and urging others to follow suit.

The official statement on Mizan justified the brutal punishment as being in accordance with both the law and Sharia. Heshmati's 74 lashes were administered for violating public morals. This starkly highlights the stringent interpretation of Sharia law in Iran, where women above puberty age are mandated to cover their heads with a scarf and clothe their bodies in long, loose-fitting attire.

"The convicted, Roya Heshmati, encouraged permissiveness by appearing disgracefully in busy public places in Tehran," the Mizan Online website said. The website further stated, "Her penalty of 74 strokes of the lash was carried out in accordance with the law and with sharia," and "for violating public morals."

Sharing her ordeal on social media, Heshmati said that she was made to endure brutal beatings in a dimly lit room reminiscent of a medieval torture chamber. The beatings left marks on her body, a photo of which was also shared by her. In fact, Heshmati was so steadfast that she refused to wear a hijab when offered in the courtroom. This has led to widespread criticism on social media. However, Heshmati's account is now locked.

Iran Laws against Violation of Dress Code 

In Iran, women have been expected to wear hijab and cover their necks in public since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Although whippings are not normal in Iran, the officials have become stricter against the violation of dress codes now than ever. The officials have even installed CCTV cameras in public to monitor violations of the moral codes.

Iran's hijab laws have undergone recent amendments, further tightening the grip on women's dress codes. Last year, the parliament passed a new "hijab and chastity" law, stipulating a 10-year prison sentence and fines ranging from 180 to 360 rials for those deemed to be dressing "inappropriately" in public places.

This is because of the widespread anti-government protests that emerged in Iran in late 2022 after the death of Mahsa Amini in custody. She was arrested for not wearing a hijab and detained for violating the dress code, which triggered widespread protests and calls for the overthrow of Iran's theocracy. However, the dissent was met with a heavy crackdown, resulting in over 500 protesters being killed and 22,000 detained.

Ongoing Resistance

Despite the harsh repercussions, individuals like Armita Geravand continued to resist. Geravand, a 16-year-old, fell into a coma after an alleged altercation with the morality police on a Tehran metro train. She described the punishment as a small "medieval torture chamber," emphasizing the relentless spirit of those opposing the oppressive dress codes.

International Response and Human Rights Advocacy

Rights groups, including the Kurdish-focused Hengaw, have denounced Heshmati's whipping as inhumane. Political commentators and activists, both within and outside Iran, have expressed disgust and called for an end to the oppressive governance that suppresses individual freedoms.