Iran's morality police will not 'bother' women, president says
Masoud Pezeshkian's comments came on the second anniversary of the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was arrested for allegedly not wearing the hijab properly, sparking nationwide protests.
The UN last week said Iran's government had "intensified efforts" since that period to suppress women's rights and crush any last vestiges of activism.
But on Monday, Pezeshkian said that the regime's morality police should no longer be confronting women on the street.
Pezeshkian, who became president after his predecessor died in a helicopter crash, is seen as a potentially reformist leader.
He was responding to questions from a female reporter who said she had taken detours en route to the press conference to avoid police vans. She was wearing her head scarf loosely with some hair showing.
When asked by Pezeshkian if the police were still on the streets she confirmed that was the case.
In response he said: "The morality police were not supposed to confront [women]. I will follow up so they don't bother [them]".
His comments were broadcast live on major state TV networks, including rolling news channel IRINN. The clip of the conversation with the female journalist has since gone viral online.
It was Pezeshkian's first press conference since coming into office in July, replacing the ultraconservative Ebrahim Raisi.
During his election campaign he pledged to oppose police patrols enforcing the mandatory hijab headscarf. He has also vowed to ease some of the country's long-standing internet controls.
Iran stepped up surveillance of social media following the nationwide women-led anti-establishment protests in 2022.
FULL ARTICLE AT: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgnn3562yjo
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