By Gwurld4026 
Activist Faces 178 Lashes for Hijab Protest in Iran
Iranian activist and former political prisoner Hamideh Zarei has been sentenced to 18 months in prison and 178 lashes for defying Iran’s mandatory hijab laws.
Zarei’s ordeal began on February 3, 2025, when she appeared at the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Rasht as part of a forced residency sentence. She was detained for not wearing the mandatory hijab, leading to new charges against her. After spending 29 days in detention at Rasht Central Prison, she was released on bail on March 3.
This severe punishment underscores the Iranian authorities’ intensified crackdown on women’s rights activists and those opposing the compulsory hijab. The sentencing of Zarei reflects a broader pattern of repression against individuals challenging Iran’s strict dress code laws.