Iran increases surveillance on women through drones and apps to enforce the hijab law

Image: Jihad Watch

Like many women in Iran, Darya is accustomed to feeling watched. However, in recent months, the 25-year-old finance analyst from northern Tehran has found herself increasingly uncertain about who might be observing her every move.

She has previously received police messages warning her about alleged violations of the country’s strict hijab laws. But last November, she received an SMS containing her car’s registration plate, specifying the exact time and location where she had been recorded driving without properly covering her head. The message warned that if it happened again, her car would be impounded.

“It was really unsettling,” she says.

“When you get these messages, you don’t know who reported you—and the police never seem to have concrete proof of the violation.”

Following widespread outcry last year, Iranian authorities announced they would suspend enforcement of the stricter hijab laws, which impose harsh penalties, including fines and prison sentences, on women who violate the mandatory dress code.

Despite this, women in Iran report that state surveillance has only intensified.

Last week, a UN fact-finding mission highlighted Iran’s growing reliance on digital surveillance, including the Nazer mobile application—a state-backed platform that enables citizens and police to report women for alleged hijab violations.

The app is accessible exclusively through Iran’s state-controlled National Information Network, and members of the public can apply to become "hijab monitors."

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)