On Tuesday, July 9, a senior official from the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution revealed that the Turkish Airlines office in Iran was sealed by the Public Places Supervision Office due to non-compliance with mandatory hijab regulations. This action, confirmed by Ebrahim Souzanchi, a member of the council, sparked immediate reactions as it might have been linked to a recent phone conversation between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the regime’s president-elect Masoud Pezeshkian.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Souzanchi commented on the timing of the incident, suggesting a possible connection to the high-level diplomatic exchange. He sarcastically noted, “Erdoğan called and spoke with the President-elect for an hour about improving relations. Meanwhile, today, the Turkish Airlines office was sealed by the authorities for hijab violations; it must be a coincidence.”
This incident highlights a broader trend where numerous businesses are closed annually in Iran for various reasons, such as failing to adhere to mandatory hijab rules and the regime’s fundamentalist codes of conduct by patrons or employees, hosting live music, or facilitating dancing and festivities.
Internal Strife Erupts as #Iran’s Regime Unveils Controversial #Hijab Enforcement Planhttps://t.co/f87mdIEB6k
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) April 22, 2024
Reports from different cities indicate a surge in the closure of popular establishments under the pretext of employees and customers not observing mandatory hijab. These closures are often announced to the public through official channels.
However, the Tehran prosecutor stated that no judicial order was issued for the sealing of the Turkish Airlines office. According to the state-run news agency ISNA, the judiciary clarified, “There has been news about the sealing of the Turkish Airlines office for hours. The Tehran prosecutor responded to a reporter’s question, stating that no judicial order was issued regarding this matter.”
On September 20, 2023, the clerical regime’s parliament approved the “Chastity and Hijab” bill, which imposes severe penalties and fines for those opposing mandatory hijab. This bill was finalized by a special committee under Article 85 of the Constitution, reflecting the regime’s ongoing efforts to enforce strict dress codes and suppress dissent.
The sealing of the Turkish Airlines office and the broader enforcement of so-called hijab laws underscore the regime’s agenda to maintain its grip on society, despite international and domestic criticism. The incident also raises questions about the influence of diplomatic maneuvers or even potential internal sabotage at play.
