Victor Pourcher
The mobilization continues in Iran, where the death of Mahsa Amini has provoked an unprecedented movement of the people who denounce a policy that is too repressive. What is the role of the morality police, known as the Gasht-e Ershad, within the Islamic Republic? Europe 1 takes stock.
In Iran, the morality police ensure that the laws of the Islamic Republic, in force since the 1979 revolution, are respected on the streets. It was created in 2005, under ultra-conservative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. This police force is made up of men in green uniforms and women wearing the black chador which covers the head and upper body.
What clothes are prohibited by the morality police?
What are the missions of the morality police? Concretely, this police monitors the outfits of women, whether they are Iranian or not. They must have their hair covered, cannot wear short coats or tight pants, and bright colors are strictly prohibited in the event of arrest. The penalty can range from imprisonment to flogging, but the problem is that there is no precise definition of what good dress is, especially on how to wear the veil. The criteria for action of these police officers are therefore arbitrary. NGOs have always condemned this unit of repression.