The Iranian regime is dramatically escalating its efforts to control public behavior, with plans to deploy 80,000 “virtue enforcers” across Tehran province. This massive deployment is aimed at tightening control over women’s mandatory dress code (hijab) and internet usage amid rising public discontent and visible defiance. This initiative comes as enforcement tactics have already morphed from traditional morality police patrols to pervasive electronic surveillance and the sealing of dozens of businesses—including cafes and restaurants—accused of serving unveiled women or hosting mixed-gender gatherings.
The move is a stark response to the persistent civil disobedience that erupted after the 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests, sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini. Despite the apparent ineffectiveness of previous measures, and even a temporary suspension of the harsh new “Hijab and Chastity” law due to fear of unrest, the state is now relying on a large network of undercover agents and a sophisticated surveillance apparatus. Tehran’s police chief overseeing public places recently announced that these undercover agents are deployed in cultural and public spaces to monitor “behavior contrary to Islamic laws and norms.”
The deployment of such a massive volunteer force underscores the regime’s struggle to re-assert its authority over women’s bodies and public life, particularly in major cities where women are increasingly shunning the compulsory veil. By shifting the burden of enforcement onto private citizens and business owners, the regime is attempting to enforce compliance without directly provoking another large-scale uprising. However, this strategy is likely to fuel further public anger and deepen political fractures within the conservative establishment over the enforceability of the mandatory hijab law.
