Two years after Amini’s death, Iran’s prez vows morality police won’t 'bother' women: Will it be enough?

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed on Monday (September 16), during remarks to the media, that the Iranian morality police will no longer “bother” women.

His statement came during his first press conference since assuming power in July. The day coincides with during the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death in police custody.

Pezeshkian, who took office after the death of his predecessor Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May this year, had vowed during election campaigning to “fully” oppose police patrols enforcing the mandatory hijab headscarf. The morality police and how they enforce the obligatory headscarf for all women had become a a high-profile issue since Amini’s death and the nation-wide demonstrations that followed.

Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, died on September 16, 2022, after being detained by the morality police in Tehran for allegedly violating Iran’s strict dress code for women. Her death sparked widespread protests.

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“The morality police were not supposed to confront (women). I will follow up so they don’t bother them,” Pezeshkian said.

But the question raised after Amini’s death was not just one about the enforcement of the obligatory headscarf rule that has been a key pillar of the regime.

The women-led protests after her death also challenged the very existence of the clerical-based system, rattling Iran’s leadership over autumn and winter 2022-2023.

Amnesty International reported that the government’s crackdown on protesters involved the use of assault rifles and shotguns, leading to at least 551 deaths, according to human rights groups. Thousands were also arrested during the unrest.

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Despite the president’s promises, and despite him being on the moderate side in Iran, Pezeshkian’s ability to act has been rather restricted.

This is because the final say in all of Iran’s matters lies with the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Pezeshkian, therefore, has to toe a fine line, pushing for change while adhering to the power structures that keep Khamenei at the helm of Iranian affairs.

With inputs from AFP