Iran using drones and apps to enforce women's dress code

Source: BBC

Iran using drones and apps to enforce women's dress code

14 March 2025

Imogen Foulkes
Geneva correspondent, BBC News
Tom McArthur
BBC News

Iran is using drones and intrusive digital technology to crush dissent, especially among women who refuse to obey the Islamic republic's strict dress code, the United Nations has said.

Investigators say Iranian security officials are using a strategy of "state-sponsored vigilantism" to encourage people to use specialist phone apps to report women for alleged dress code violations in private vehicles such as taxis and ambulances.

Their new report also highlights the increasing use of drones and security cameras to monitor hijab compliance in Tehran and in southern Iran.

For women who defy the laws, or protest against them, the consequences are severe – arrest, beating, and even rape in custody.

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Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0kg15jkpdeo