Iranian Government Reasserts Authority with Return of Morality Police

Iranian authorities have announced a new campaign to enforce the wearing of Islamic headscarves and the return of morality police to the streets, 10 months after the death of a woman in their custody sparked nationwide protests.

The morality police had largely pulled back following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini last September, as authorities struggled to contain mass protests calling for the overthrow of the theocracy that has ruled Iran for over four decades.

The protests largely died down earlier this year following a heavy crackdown in which over 500 protesters were killed and nearly 20,000 detained, according to the Norway based rights group, Iran Human Rights.

The new campaign is part of a larger effort by the Iranian government to reassert its authority and control over the population. The morality police are tasked with enforcing the dress code and other social norms, such as preventing public displays of affection.

The return of the morality police has been met with mixed reactions from the public, with some welcoming the move as a way to maintain order and others expressing concern that it could lead to further human rights abuses. It remains to be seen how the new campaign will be implemented and enforced.