Iran Uses Drones to Enforce Hijab Laws on Women

Iran Deploys Drones to Enforce Strict Dress Code on Women

Iran has intensified its surveillance measures, employing drones and digital technology to enforce stringent dress code regulations, particularly targeting women who defy the Islamic Republic’s strict hijab laws, according to a report by the United Nations.

Investigators reveal that Iranian security officials have adopted a state-sponsored surveillance strategy, urging citizens to use specialized mobile applications to report women allegedly violating dress code regulations in private vehicles such as taxis and ambulances.

Expansion of Digital and Aerial Surveillance

The latest UN report highlights a growing reliance on drones and security cameras to monitor women’s compliance with hijab mandates, particularly in Tehran and the southern regions of Iran.

For those who resist or protest against these regulations, the consequences are severe—arrests, beatings, and, in extreme cases, sexual violence in detention facilities.

One of the most high-profile cases cited in the report involves a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who was reportedly beaten by Iran’s morality police during her arrest. While authorities deny any misconduct and attribute her death to sudden cardiac failure, her death ignited widespread protests that persist despite threats of arrest, violence, and imprisonment.

Findings of the UN Fact-Finding Mission

The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, established last year, concluded that the Iranian government bears responsibility for the physical violence that led to the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini while in custody.

According to the report, authorities issue text message warnings to registered vehicle owners if their cars are flagged for hijab violations. Repeated non-compliance may result in vehicle impoundment, the report states.

The UN investigators conducted interviews with nearly 300 victims and witnesses, scrutinizing Iran’s judicial system, which they describe as lacking genuine independence. Victims of human rights abuses, including torture, reported systematic intimidation against their families.

Escalation of Gender-Based Violence in Custody

The report also details additional cases of gender-based violence against detained women. One survivor recounted enduring severe physical assault, mock executions by hanging on two separate occasions, and gang rape while in custody.

The findings will be formally presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council on March 18.