It has become routine in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Every year -- ahead of the hot summer months -- the authorities launch a crackdown on what they describe as "bad veiling." The term is used to describe women who appear in public with colorful scarves and tight coats, or who show their hair or use makeup.
Police accost and sometimes detain such "badly veiled" women on major squares or in shopping malls, warning or fining them -- or taking them to police stations, where they must pledge in writing not to appear immodestly dressed in public.
Yet this year's crackdown is described by observers as one of the harshest in recent memory.
Iranian authorities have vowed that this fresh crackdown on improper clothing is no temporary measure, and announced that "plainclothes police will go into action" from next week.
Since it began in late April, hundreds of women -- and some men -- have been detained at least briefly over their allegedly "un-Islamic" appearance. Some have signed statements pledging not to violate the dress code, while others face court cases. Barbers have been warned not to give men Western hairstyles, and young men playing loud music in their cars have been also warned.
Shops selling some types of clothes have also received warnings, and several have reportedly been shut down.
They ought to call them the uglyclothes police since most of the women who "go into action" to stop those that don't meet Islamic standards are wearing those ugly black sacks that pass for women's apparel in Muslim countries. What a dismal way to live.
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