Iran's morality police resume street patrols, forcing women to wear headscarves after months-long protest
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Iran's morality police is once again enforcing the dress code on women wearing the Islamic scarf after pulling back in response to nationwide protests.
Though morality police were rarely seen patrolling the streets, authorities insisted throughout the crisis that the rules had not changed. Iran's clerical rulers view the hijab as a key pillar of the Islamic revolution that brought them to power more than four decades ago.
The battle over the hijab became a powerful rallying cry last fall, with women playing a leading role in the protests. The demonstrations quickly escalated into calls for the overthrow of Iran's clerical rulers, whom the mostly young protesters accuse of being corrupt, repressive and out of touch. Iran's government blamed the protests on a foreign conspiracy, without providing evidence.
Several Iranian celebrities joined the protests, including prominent directors and actors from the country's celebrated film industry. Several Iranian actresses were detained after appearing in public without the hijab or expressing support for the protests.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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