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Iran moves to abolish morality police in face of months-long protest

Observers say that the patrol officers, which went around the country in vehicles branded in green and white colours, had not been seen in weeks.

• December 4, 2022
Iran Morality Police
Iran Morality Police Photo Credit; Financial Times

The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has abolished its controversial morality police, Gasht-e Ershad or The Guidance Patrol, in the face of a public uprising that has now lasted over two months. 

The suspension, although not officially announced, was hinted at by the country’s Attorney General, Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, when in response to a question, he told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) that the Guidance Patrol “has no connection with the judiciary and was shut down by the same place that it had been launched from in the past.” 

While there are no official reports confirming the abolition of the violent police team, observers say that the patrol officers, which went around the country in vehicles branded in green and white colours, had not been since in weeks. 

Mr Montazeri also announced that the parliament and the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution would review the country’s dress code for Hijab and make the reports public in two weeks. 

The move to abolish the morality police might be the biggest win for Iranian women in over two months of resilient protest daring violent clampdown from the country’s authorities. Thousands of women are seen removing their Hijab and burning their headscarves in protest of the morality guide after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was pronounced dead in a hospital after brutal torture by the police group. 

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