Iran arrests third person in tourist hotspot brawl with hijab enforcer

Iranian authorities have made a third arrest in connection with a recent altercation with a hijab enforcer at Qavam House, a popular park in Shiraz, the southern Fars Province's capital, the semi-official ISNA news agency reported on Wednesday.

Police arrested the director of Qavam House and took him into custody, bringing the total number of arrests on the case to three.

Shiraz's prosecutor general, Mostafa Bahreini, vowed that the case would be dealt with as a matter of urgency, declaring the judiciary's "unwavering support" for the hijab enforcer involved.

Earlier this month, a man and a women were arrested for allegedly "assaulting" the female hijab enforcer after she attempted to film them.

The arrest came after Bisimchi Media, a Telegram channel said to be linked to Iran's security apparatus, posted a video of the brawl. In the video, the couple appear to be angered over the hijab enforcer filming them.

Wearing the hijab and modest clothing became mandatory for women and girls over the age of 9 in Iran, following the Islamic Revolution of 1979, but the implementation of the law depends on the ruling government.

Hardline President Ebrahim Raisi maintained the importance of the hijab law and branded opposition to it as a systematic promotion of corruption in Islamic society.

Measures in adherence to hijab laws have become stricter.

In July, the deputy prosecutor of Mashhad in northeast Iran banned women from attending offices and banks or using the metro if they do not wear the hijab.

The country also witnessed an official redeployment of "morality" patrols to intensify the enforcement of the mandatory dress code.

Both police officers and plainclothes personnel have resorted to filming women perceived as "violating" hijab rules, utilising mass surveillance technologies to facilitate their arrests.

Bisimchi Media is one of the online platforms that shares such videos, advocating for the arrest of "hijab violators".