Iranian woman gets 74 lashes for refusing Hijab

TEHRAN: In a horrifying incident from Iran, a woman faced 74 lashes as per the Islamic Republic’s court orders for refusing to comply with mandatory hijab regulations. The victim is identified as Roya Heshmati. This harsh punishment sheds light on the ongoing challenges faced by those opposing the enforced dress code in the Islamic state.

According to a report in Iran International, Roya Heshmati, a vocal critic of compulsory hijab, courageously entered the courtroom without her hijab, asserting her right to receive the lashes without covering up. Despite officials’ warnings of opening a new case against her for non-compliance with hijab if she did not cover up, she stood firm and faced the lashes.

Heshmati provided a chilling account of the whipping room, describing it as a medieval torture chamber with cement walls, a small bed and iron shackles. This vivid description offers a glimpse into the dehumanising environment in which such punishments are carried out.

The international community strongly condemns Iran’s use of degrading punishments, such as flogging, which goes against the principles outlined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.