Regime Blames Protests For Iran's Economic Woes

Masoud Setayeshi, the spokesman for Iran's Judiciary, disclosed the figures, adding that out of the 2,251 hijab cases, 825 resulted in convictions, 344 were prohibited from prosecution, while 167 defendants were acquitted.

The penalties for those attempting to remove the hijab remain fierce. "The people who attempt to remove the hijab will be…sentenced to pay a fine equal to 15 million rials ($30) for the first time, and for the second time, in addition to the fine, they will also be sentenced to additional punishments," he said, without elaborating.

Setayeshi admitted that women found flouting the hijab in public roles such as celebrities or public figures, will be dealt with even more harshly, as has been seen since September, when athletes, actresses and others have faced the likes of travel bans, pay cuts, bank freezes and social media bans.

Recently, a hijab bill was passed by a parliamentary committee proposing penalties for celebrities who violate hijab rules, including the potential confiscation of up to 10 percent of their assets and incomes, part of ongoing attempts to curb the ever swelling tide of rebellion. 

The bill defines "inappropriate clothing" as revealing the neck, arms above the wrist, and legs above the ankles, and will be subject to an increased cash fine of up to 500 million rials ($1,000) for the first offense.

However, legal experts have raised concerns over the new bill, asserting that it not only violates civil rights but also the Constitution, necessitating resources that exceed the government's means.

The arrest took place on July 31, and since then, there has been no information about his whereabouts or condition.

According to a statement from the Dadban Legal Education and Counseling Center, activists in Khuzestan province reported that Bouri disappeared after he visited the intelligence department of Abadan to collect his mobile phone after plainclothes forces previously raided his home, confiscated his cell phone, and took him away.

Bouri gained popularity on social media for his humorous yet pointed critiques of the country's officials and the prevailing issues. His satirical videos were known for their critical commentary, often touching on sensitive subjects.

Before his arrest, Bouri shared a picture of a history of anonymous calls from security institutions and disclosed that he was forced to delete some of his content.

Bouri's case is not an isolated incident, as the Iranian authorities have been cracking down on social media activists, artists, and comedians in recent months. Among them is Mehdi Etemad Saeed, a theater artist and actor who was arrested approximately two months ago.

Saeed, known for his work in underprivileged areas of Iran, especially in southern provinces and regions affected by natural disasters, has also been deprived of his right to legal representation and communication with his family.

Notably, several other artists and comedians including Taraneh Alidousti, Hengameh Ghaziani, Mohammad Sadeghi, Hamid Pourazari, Soheila Golestani, Zainab Mousavi, and others, have faced arrests and imprisonment during the Iranian uprising against the Islamic Republic.

The official Saudi news agency SPA cited the foreign ministry as saying that both countries are renewing calls for Iran to engage in negotiations on the demarcation of the eastern border of the Gulf's maritime "Divided Area," SPA said.

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait will negotiate as one party, with Iran acting as the other side in the talks "in accordance with the provisions of international law," the Saudi foreign ministry added.

Iran has previously said it has a stake in the Durra field and called a Saudi-Kuwaiti agreement signed last year to develop it "illegal."

Called Arash in Iran and Durra or Dorra by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait -- the offshore field was discovered in 1967 and is estimated to have a total proven reserves of around 310 million barrels of oil and 20 trillion cubic feet of gas.

Iran said on Sunday it would pursue its rights over the field if other parties shunned cooperation, a few days after Kuwait's oil minister said his country would start drilling and begin production without waiting for border demarcation with Iran.

“If there is no willingness to cooperate, Iran will pursue its rights and benefits, including the exploitation and exploration of the Arash gas field, and will not tolerate any violation of its rights,” Javad Owji said July 30.

Tehran re-established diplomatic relations with Riyadh in March after a 7-year period of tensions, but the dispute over the energy field can create new complications.

Several online shopping platforms including online bookshop Taghcheh, online retailer Digikala, and marketing platform Azkey were shot down during the past few days not for their operations, but for the way their employees dressed in photographs posted on social media platforms.

The statement by the Judiciary Spokesman Massoud Setayeshi revealed the chaos surrounding the way the government enforces compulsory hijab and controls online businesses and social media platforms.

Setayeshi said that the Judiciary has never issued any order for the closure of online or other businesses. However, he confirmed that court cases have been launched for the online businesses about their employees’ hijab.

Meanwhile, adding to the confusion, Communications Minister Isa Zarepour also told the press on Tuesday that his ministry was not involved in the closure of online businesses. He said, “closure of a platform is not the right way to confront the employees.” Zarepour made it clear that “the right thing to do is confronting the employees," not punish the companies

Some of those platforms such as Digikala have tens of thousands of employees, subcontractors and businesses that supply the merchandise. Moderate website Rouiydad24 wrote in a report on Tuesday, “If we are involved in an economic war as the country’s officials say, why are you crippling people’s livelihood by shutting down online businesses?”

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Donya-ye Eqtesad (Economic World) daily said: “The closure of online businesses affect thousands of their employees, providers, contractors and others involved in the business.” The daily further asked why platforms should be closed when the economy is the country’s biggest problem? Donya-ye Eqtesad also questioned the approach that widens the crisis of enforcing the compulsory hijab by extending it to online business, platforms and applications.

The daily went on to argue that “The people are the country’s most valuable asset. By making them unhappy, the expert workforce is likely to leave the country in a situation when we need them most.”

The daily also warned that the closures will do harm to the digital industry, which is the only growing sector in Iran’s economy.

Meanwhile, former Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri told reporters that the closure of online businesses threatens the private sector. He added that shutting down online businesses for hijab is like throwing a stone at a bunch of sparrows which also makes other sparrows flee.

He said this approach is worrying. While the production and services sectors are suffering from the current economic crisis, endangering their existence by shutting down online platform will make the private sector angry. He added: “The private sector needs security for its capital.”

Following the denials by various officials about their involvement in the closure of businesses, social media users noted the chaos in handling hijab and online activities in Iran and wrote that no one in the government is brave enough to accept responsibility for harsh measures. Some media outlets have quoted government spokesman Ali Bahadori as saying that President Ebrahim Raisi was unhappy about the decision to shut down those businesses, but he was not observed to say anything in public about the situation.

In the meantime, the identity of powerful state organs who had closed down online platforms remains a mystery.

Referring to the alarming impoverishment of one-third of the Iranian population, Mohsen Pirhadi, the vice-chairman of the parliamentary committee for Iran’s Seventh National Development Plan said on Wednesday, "The rise in the country's population who live below the poverty line to 28 million is not solely attributable to policies implemented in the last two or three years."

Despite launching 12 development plans since the 1940s, aimed at building infrastructure, establishing key industries, and expanding public services and education, Iran still remains classified as a developing country, with an average economic growth rate of only 2.5 percent during the Islamic Republic.

Pirhadi further added that the impoverishment of such a significant portion of the population is a complex issue that “cannot be reduced to individual actions or political labels. Instead, it necessitates an in-depth examination and reevaluation of policies that have contributed to the economic decline of a substantial section of society.”

The "poverty line" in Iran represents the income level that covers the minimum essential needs of a household, with incomes below this line categorized as "absolute poverty." According to Iranian officials, the poverty line for residents of Tehran is approximately 300,000,000 rials (approx $600) per month, which is three times the minimum wage in Iran.

Like the other regime officials, he denied that the issue of widespread impoverishment is due to recent policies but said it is instead a result of various factors, including sanctions, the devaluation of the national currency, and management inefficiencies, which have accumulated over the past decade.