Amid an economic crisis that has seen the Iranian currency tumble and inflation rates soar, Rabiei underscored the disconnect between the government and the public, who he claimed are plagued by insecurity, particularly in urban areas. “A glance at the society reveals that so many people are worried about the government’s ad-hoc decisions and this has led to a deep feeling of insecurity among the people,” Rabiei disclosed.
Likewise, conservative figure Hasan Beyadi, linked to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s office, expressed dismay at the lack of expert governance. “Perhaps the government’s best course of action is non-intervention in national affairs,” Beyadi suggested, criticizing the Raisi administration for unfulfilled promises and for not leveraging political participation to surmount current challenges. He highlighted the irony of government ineffectiveness in even basic service provisions like water, power, and telecommunications, where less intervention might have yielded better outcomes.
Both Rabiei and Beyadi’s comments, though explicitly directed at President Ebrahim Raisi’s administration, allude to broader disillusionment within the population towards the entire regime, which operates under Khamenei. Beyadi indicated that the government’s ineptitude in various areas stems from the influence of major parallel economic organizations that operate without accountability.
Furthermore, the Iranian government’s stringent enforcement of hijab laws has drawn condemnation not just internationally but domestically. In April, the Iranian government implemented surveillance cameras in order to identify and penalize women who were not adhering to the country’s hijab laws. According to Reuters, women who were caught violating the laws would receive a warning about the potential consequences. The police also called upon businesses to diligently monitor and enforce societal norms.
Alinejad ，an Iranian activist and journalist，argues that the government’s various tactics to enforce hijab laws have been ineffective thus far. She points out that if one were to walk the streets of any town in Iran, they would be surprised by the number of women who choose to walk without a veil and protest against the mandatory hijab.
However, Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet, a scholar of Iranian and Middle Eastern history at the University of Pennsylvania, believes that this latest attempt to crack down on violators will have significant implications for women’s rights in Iran. She states that the intimidation and uncertainty surrounding the enforcement will deter those who may want to remove the veil but are too afraid to do so. Unfortunately, it will also contribute to a culture that normalizes aggression against women.
Adding to the controversy is the power struggle surfacing within the ruling ultra-hardliners, which has implications for the regime’s long-term stability. Recent hijab crackdowns sparked divisions even among hardliners, and the Paydari Party, at the extreme end of the fundamentalist spectrum, has been under fire. This faction’s support for the harsh enforcement of hijab rules seems to be part of a broader positioning for succession to Khamenei.
The complexities of Iranian politics are not lost on the general public or the international community. While the government persists in enforcing control over personal freedoms, such as the hijab, political infighting and accusations among conservatives hint at deeper uncertainties about the regime’s direction and the future leadership.
Relevant articles:
– Politicians In Iran Beg Government: ‘Please Do Nothing’, iranintl.com, 04/28/2024
– Iranian Lawyers Slam Morality Police Over Hijab Enforcement, ایران اینترنشنال, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 17:22:00 GMT
– Harsh Hijab Policies In Iran Can Be A Power Struggle For Succession, ایران اینترنشنال, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 08:35:35 GMT
– Former Iran Hostages Demand Release Of Swedish Doctor On Death Row, ایران اینترنشنال, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 10:38:06 GMT