Iran Adds 80,000 Morality Police; West Only Noticed Last Week?
Al-Monitor reports Iran is adding 80,000 personnel to enforce hijab in Tehran Province. The headline, dutifully recirculated, treats this as breaking news, an extraordinary development. Ignored is the fact that Iran's 'morality police' and their enforcement of dress codes are not a new phenomenon, but a decades-long staple of the Islamic Republic's domestic policy. The sudden spotlight often
arises when it serves a broader geopolitical narrative. One might wonder if the concern for women's freedom in Iran is quite as fervent when compared to the West's enthusiastic backing of Saudi Arabia—a nation where, until very recently, women faced similar strictures and still endure pervasive legal discrimination—or the deafening silence on the systemic oppression of Palestinian women under
occupation. It's almost as if the 'concern' aligns perfectly with nations identified for 'regime change' or increased sanctions, while allies get a pass. Funny, that.