Iranian media denies that ‘morality police’ have been shut down Transcript

We turn overseas. Now, Iranian and state media are denying reports that officials are shutting down the regime so-called morality police. More than 400 people have died in protests across the country following the death of a 22-year-old woman who was in their custody. Here’s ABC’s Lama Hasan from London.

Two nights after months of deadly demonstrations engulfing Iran, a potential concession for the protestors. Iran’s Attorney General says authorities have disbanded the country’s once feared morality police, but later, the regime backtracking, disputing this on Iranian state media.

If even it happens, it’s a bandaid and it will not stop the bleeding. The world stage should take this headline with a grain of salt. It’s too little, too late.

The force is tossed with enforcing the Islamic dress code, including the law that requires women to wear a hijab and cover their hair. Parliament and the judiciary are also reviewing those laws, but wearing the hijab is still mandatory. That law has not been abolished. It was the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini that ignited the protests.

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Amini was arrested by the morality police for not wearing her head scarf correctly, later dying in custody. Women outraged to finally out on the streets leading the movement, ripping off their hijab and cutting their hair. And despite the regime’s brutal crackdown, according to Iran human rights group killing more than 448 people, the women were galvanized. The demonstrations intensifying, showing no size of slowing down.

These laws have turned women into second-class citizens in their own country, and that’s what they’re fighting.

Lindsay, the protestors say this latest move to disband the morality police is not enough. They say they want all their freedoms back and they will keep fighting for a regime change. Lindsay.

Lama, thank you.