Iran is using air drones, facial recognition systems and citizen reporting applications to enforce mandatory hijack laws, a report released Friday, March 14.
The report highlights Iran’s dependence on surveillance and punishment of women who violate mandatory Islamic clothing regulations.
At the heart of this crackdown is the “Nazer” mobile app, a government-backed app that allows citizens and police to report alleged violations of women.
Investigators involved in the two-year fact-finding mission accused Iran of human rights violations and crimes against humanity in suppressing dissent, especially against women and girls.
According to the report, the “Nazer” mobile app enables users to upload license plates, locations and times of vehicles that women do not wear hijabs. The app then “marks” the vehicle online, reminding the police. ”
The app also “triggers a text message to the registered owner of the vehicle in real time warning them that they have violated the mandatory hijacking laws and that their vehicles will be seized for ignoring these warnings”.
Accessed through Iranian police, the app is abbreviated as (Faraja) website, expanded to target women in ambulances, taxis and public transportation in September 2024.
Authorities have also deployed “air drones” in the capital Tehran and southern Iran to monitor public places and “surveillance hijab compliance in public places”, in addition to the new facial recognition software reportedly installed in early 2024, “the entrance to Amir Kabir University in Tehran” was installed in early 2024 to monitor compliance for female students.”
Although suspended in December 2024 after internal debate, in the West, the draft law “hide and chastity” of Iran is seen as a serious threat to women and girls in the country.
If enacted, the law would sentence up to 10 years in prison and fined the equivalent of $12,000 in violations, the report said. According to Article 286 of the Islamic Criminal Code of Iran, women may face a “death penalty” if they are charged with “corruption on the earth”.
The report said the law will further entrust law enforcement powers to Iran’s security agencies, while also increasing the use of technology and surveillance.
The United Nations said in 2022 that hundreds of people were killed during protests against the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, Iran was detained in moral police custody in September 2022.
