{
  "id": 1909927,
  "title": "Iran establishes Tehran court for ‘moral security’ as it tightens monitoring of hijab compliance",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/iran-establishes-tehran-court-for-moral-security-as-it-tightens",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-19T10:26:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-906000"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Iran has established a new prosecutor's office in Tehran, named the Special Prosecutor's Office for Moral Security, tasked with addressing violations and crimes against public morality, such as non-compliance with hijab regulations and social media posts criticizing the regime. This development comes as the country tightens its monitoring of hijab compliance and witnesses the presence of morality police in streets, often leading to harassment of women who are perceived to be violating Iran's compulsory dress code.\n\nAli Salehi, the Tehran Prosecutor, confirmed that the office's initial actions will involve taking measures against stores selling unconventional clothing and monitoring cyberspace. According to Tehran media, the office will be staffed by 12 judges. The establishment of this office is seen as a response to renewed vigilance against perceived breaches of moral security, including women's uncovered hair or short-sleeved clothing in public.\n\nReportedly, the office has already played a role in the arrest of two influencers who mocked the Arbaeen ceremonies, a religious event marking the 40th day of mourning for Imam Hussein, on social media. A video posted by a woman and a man criticizing the ceremony led to immediate action by the prosecutor's office, blocking their online pages and arresting them. Additionally, social media users who supported the exiled crown prince or Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman who was murdered by morality police in 2022 for wearing hijab incorrectly, were also compelled to publish apology videos on their accounts.\n\nDespite these actions, the Iranian legal network Dadbaan has criticized the move, arguing that merely publishing content online or choosing attire without explicit legal provisions or crime elements does not justify detention, account blocking, or restrictions on citizens. The legal network emphasizes that the principle of the legality of crimes and punishments should not be undermined by vague terms like \"moral security\" which could be used to expand criminal intervention into private life and freedom of expression. This crackdown on attire, lifestyle, business activities, and content published in cyberspace is seen as a method of exerting social pressure on citizens, transforming the criminal justice system into a tool for controlling everyday behaviors and social suppression, thereby restricting privacy and individual freedoms.",
  "summary": "BBC Persian reported that the announcement comes amid the renewed presence of morality police and heightened street harassment of women perceived to be violating Iran’s compulsory dress code.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "What’s next in Iran war? Trump ends talks, tightens squeeze as Tehran vows to break US naval blockade",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/whats-next-in-iran-war-trump-ends-talks-tightens-squeeze-as-tehran",
        "published": "2026-08-19T10:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}