|
Iran hardliners demand clampdown on women's dress
September 5, 2004
Tehran - About 500 hardline vigilantes have taken to the streets of Tehran,
demanding authorities crack down on women who wear colourful headscarves and
figure-hugging coats which they denounce as "prostitution".
Tehran's hardline authorities have announced a clampdown on women who do not
dress suitably modestly but the crowd, mainly composed of long-shirted
black-bearded men, called on the police and new conservative parliamentarians
to do more.
"The promotion of bad dress codes is the desire of arrogant powers, shame on
the government," chanted the crowd on Friday, punching the air with their
fists.
"Arrogant powers" is hardline rhetoric usually referring to the United States,
Britain and Israel.
"We object to street prostitution and vice," read one placard brandished by
protesters.
Dress codes eased a little after the election of reformist President Mohammad
Khatami in 1997 but hardliners are trying to claw back these concessions since
their conservative allies retook parliament in May.
Many Tehran girls wear heavy make-up, tight jackets, glitzy jewellery and
bright headscarves that allow their hair to spill out.
The placards were signed by the conservative Ansar-e Hizbollah group which last
year manned checkpoints around parts of Tehran where student demonstrations
turned violent.
Witnesses said they saw the group's vigilantes thrashing people with sticks
during the student protests.
"A proper dress code is defined by our religion and allows women to expose only
their faces and hands," said a middle-aged female protester, one of more than
100 dressed in the all-enveloping black chador.
"We hate these girls who go around all dolled up in the streets."
One member of the Ansar-e Hizbollah, who declined to be named, said this was
the first stage of the group's campaign but he did not reveal what the next
would be.
Ansar-e Hizbollah members declined to comment on France's ban on Muslim
headscarves in state schools.
Copyright 1999-2004, AsianSexGazette.com, through Rueters. All rights
reserved. No content may be reproduced in whole or part without written
permission. Please contact us via the link below for re-print and
syndication policies.
|
|
 |
