The Mongolian-style raids of the Guidance Patrol and law enforcement officers on unveiled women, which began simultaneously with missile strikes towards Israel on April 13, 2024, continue. As these raids coincided with the Islamic Republic’s apparent efforts to prevent Israeli attacks on military centers, the attacks intensified, possibly to preempt broader protests. However, today we see a new wave of resistance against these raids, especially in Tehran and major cities. A wave that has unsettled reformists ousted from power and even some supporters of the Khamenei regime, who are fearful of its increasing expansion and warn of its consequences in their newspapers.
An author wrote in Etemad newspaper on April 20, that: the resurgence of the Guidance Patrol has led to numerous confrontations in public discourse. Some reformist writers, since the hijab and chastity law has not yet been approved by parliament, consider the Guidance Patrol to lack legal authority and demand legal action against their perceived unconventional behavior towards women and their supporters. Shargh newspaper also criticized the performance of the Guidance Patrol in dealing with unveiled women in its first issue of Ordibehesht (April 20). Etemad-e Iran wrote in its April 19 issue that the harsh actions of the agents have resulted in a negative reaction from the public.
A female activist with the username “Maral” wrote on her social media page: the Khamenei regime wants to retaliate against its failures by oppressing, especially women. We saw its military power in the attack on Israel, now it seeks to compensate for its shameful defeat here. With 35 years of age, I have no pleasant memory of this government. I don’t accept its religion, its clergy, its laws, or its political decisions; even if it costs me my life, I will not wear the clerical hijab. Another person wrote that they avoid alleys due to the presence of officers; because they seal shops and do not enter any shop, but they do not yield to the burden of compulsory hijab.
The Iranian Retirees Council wrote in a statement on April 20, 2024: the war against women is a declaration of war against life and freedom! The statement states: A government under intense pressure from the people and sees its existence threatened resorts to suppressing and assaulting women to alleviate this debilitating pressure on itself and prevent further rifts within its ranks. The statement continues: resistance against this policy is not only the responsibility of women but the duty of the entire society because this “onslaught” affects all demanding social movements.
The main power nucleus in the Islamic Republic abroad, facing enemies like the US and Israel, seeks to overthrow the regime from above, in a way that not only does not lead to revolution from below but also makes people hopeful for change from above and by the US government and domestic bourgeoisie. They want specific changes in the government without touching the structure of the Islamic Republic and the capitalist economy of society. For example, they believe that if they put the clergy in charge of mourning ceremonies and chest-beating and bring a liberal government with a diluted Islamic flavor into power, people will return home in protest.
Criticisms from legalistic reformists, some principlists, and expressions of dissatisfaction from some sections of the bourgeoisie towards the inhumane behavior of the Guidance Patrol have been made and are worth considering. But the popular protests that have undermined not only the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic regime but also its rule since December 2017 go beyond the trivial complaints of domestic liberals waiting for the approval of the hijab and chastity bill in the Islamic Consultative Assembly.
Undoubtedly, liberated women and egalitarian men, hand in hand, will push the Islamic regime back in this fortress and embarrass it even further. This battle will continue on all fronts until the revolutionary overthrow of the Islamic Republic.
