A shop owner in Iran,who is an Iranian, Zeinab Khenyab, has been sentenced to two years in prison for publishing photos without a headscarf, as reported by the US-based human rights network, HRANA. The sentence follows a previous three-month prison term handed down in December for charges related to “propaganda against the state.”
Zeinab Khenyab, hailing from southwestern Iran, gained attention when her shop was closed down as part of nationwide protests. The protests, sparked by the death of Jina Mahsa Amini in September 2022, marked some of the largest demonstrations against the Islamic Republic’s rule. Amini fell into a coma after an alleged clash with morality police over the compulsory headscarf law.
The sentencing of Zeinab Khenyab reflects the Iranian government’s strict enforcement of laws regarding dress codes, particularly for women. The mandatory veiling law has been a subject of contention, leading to protests and arrests, with penalties ranging from short-term imprisonment to fines. The case adds to the broader conversation around human rights and freedom of expression in Iran.
