Iran: Two Women Arrested After Being Attacked With Yoghurt For Not Wearing Hijab

A man entered a shop where the women were standing. He spoke to them before picking up a tub of yogurt and throwing it over their heads.

A screengrab from a video shows the man throwing yoghurt on one of the women's head.

Two Iranian women were arrested on March 25, 2023, in the southwestern city of Ahvaz after being attacked with yogurt by a man, who appeared to be infuriated by their failure to cover their hair in public. A video of the incident was widely circulated online. It showed the man, who entered the shop where the women were standing. He approached the women and started talking to them before picking up a tub of yogurt and throwing it over their heads. The women were later arrested for "showing their hair", which is prohibited in Iran, according to the judiciary. The man was also arrested for disturbing public order.

The incident follows months of protests across the country calling for an end to the mandatory wearing of the hijab, or headscarf, in public places. The protests began in September, following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was detained by morality police in Tehran for allegedly wearing her hijab "improperly". The protests have since spread across the country, with thousands of people being arrested and several protesters being executed.

Despite the mounting dissent, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi reiterated on March 25, 2023, that the hijab is a "religious necessity" that must be adhered to. "Hijab is a legal matter, and adherence to it is obligatory," he told AFP news agency.

The incident involving the yogurt attack highlights the frustration and anger among many Iranians who feel that the mandatory hijab is an infringement on their personal freedom, reported British media house BBC. While wearing the hijab is mandatory in Iran, many women in big cities flout the rule and walk around without it.

Hardline MP of Iran, Hossein Ali Haji Deligani, has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the judiciary for it to take steps to stop the flouting of the rules. Iranian officials have also served "necessary notices" on the shop owner to ensure compliance with the law.

The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights groups and activists, who say that the mandatory wearing of the hijab is a violation of women's rights. They have called on the Iranian authorities to end the practice and release all those who have been detained for protesting against it.