ANALYSIS OF HIJAB BAN PRACTICES IN IRAN AFTER 2022 IN TERMS OF PANOPTICON THEORY: A CASE STUDY

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In contemporary Iran, the expansion of surveillance technologies has enabled the state to exercise precise and systematic control over its citizens, reinforcing a centralized and authoritarian governance model. In response to the women's resistance against compulsory hijab, the Iranian government has introduced and enforced stringent legal measures that not only monitor women's dress across various social domains but also curtail their broader social freedoms. This study critically examines the surveillance strategies embedded in policies such as the Chastity and Hijab Bill and the deployment of hijab enforcers in public spaces, analyzing them through the lens of Foucault's panopticism. Findings from this case study suggest that the extensive monitoring and enforcement of hijab regulations—whether by morality police or state-sanctioned enforcers—undermine women's sense of identity and self-worth, leading to a pervasive culture of self-discipline. These coercive measures, when examined in the broader socio-political framework, appear to function as part of a comprehensive disciplinary apparatus designed to reinforce gendered power hierarchies through systemic domination. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the intricate mechanisms of surveillance and control in Iran and their far-reaching implications for women's rights and individual autonomy.