RNS: Iran is increasingly relying on digital tools such as aerial drones, facial recognition systems, and citizen-reporting apps like “Nazer” to enforce mandatory hijab laws and crack down on dissent, according to a United Nations report released on Friday.
The report, compiled by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, reveals that these technologies, alongside heightened online surveillance and rising “vigilantism,” have expanded state control and repression. The “Nazer” app, a government-backed platform, allows civilians to report women who are allegedly not adhering to the hijab dress code, further entrenching the government’s ability to monitor and punish women who defy the law.
The two-year investigation, which scrutinized Iran’s response to protests and dissent, accuses the government of systemic human rights violations, particularly targeting women and girls. This crackdown follows the 2022 protests sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody.
The final report, set to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council next week, highlights severe human rights violations, including torture, unfair trials, and abuse, with children as young as seven being affected.
Sara Hossain, chair of the Fact-Finding Mission, pointed to the “Noor plan,” introduced in April 2024, as a key tool in prosecuting women who defy the hijab law. The report also notes the disproportionate targeting of ethnic and religious minorities during the protests.
In addition to the repression of women, the report underscores the execution of at least 10 men connected to the protests, with many others facing the threat of execution. Concerns over the fairness of trials persist, and human rights defenders, particularly women activists, continue to face imprisonment, fines, and even the death penalty for their peaceful advocacy.
This latest report underscores the ongoing and intensified efforts by the Iranian government to suppress dissent and tighten its grip on power, with technology playing a central role in the state’s crackdown on freedom of expression.
