Khazali, Ensieh

Person/Entity:
Person
Sanctioned:
No
Background:

Vice president for women's affairs (2021–present).1

Member of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, an extremist-dominated government policy-making body that developed stricter regulations in 2019 for mandatory hijab wearing. Appointed by the supreme leader. Headed by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who has spearheaded increased enforcement of hijab laws and regulations, including by the "Morality Police."2

"Iran's vice president for women and family affairs, Ensieh Khazali, has been a vocal supporter of intensifying online censorship and clamping down on the use of virtual private networks (VPNs). But Khazali has attracted criticism after it was revealed that her son emigrated to Canada and created a company that sells VPNs."3

Khazali opposes restrictions on child marriage.4

"Vice President for Women's Affairs Ensieh Khazali said that the hijab was part of the Islamic Republic's general law and that it guaranteed women's social movement and security."5

"Ensieh Khazali, the vice president for women and family affairs, on July 27 [of 2022] said in a Studio Hasht radio show: 'We don't have a morality police at all, these are social security police.'"6

"Some foreign media have names some of the women as victims in the recent riots, but the available evidence clearly shows their cause of death, the Mehr News Agency quoted Vice-President for Women and Family Affairs Ensieh Khazali as saying... She recalled Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s Oct. 3 statements, when he stressed that the 'morality police was just a pretext to spark chaos,' and that if there had been no such issue, they might have invented other excuses to riot... Commenting on the hijab debate, Khazali said no country enjoys absolute freedom in terms of dress code."7

"Vice President for Women and Family Affairs Ensieh Khazali commemorated Women’s Week in Iran on December 24.[vi] Khazali celebrated the position of women under the Islamic Republic and accused foreign enemies of trying to promote immorality among Iranian women. She added that the regime will hold events and programs during Women’s Week to 'raise awareness among Iranian women' about the role of foreign actors in stoking protests."8

Sources: 

1. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iranian-city-shops-shut-step-up-pressure-clerical-rulers-2022-12-05/

2. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/iranian-linked-to-hijab-crackdown-is-director-of-british-migrant-charity-7729fcrkp; https://sccr.ir/members/3

3. https://www.rferl.org/a/farda-briefing-hijab-amini-protests-raisi-vpn/32043171.html

4. https://old.iranintl.com/en/iran-in-brief/irans-vp-womens-affairs-disagrees-limiting-child-marriage 

5. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iranian-city-shops-shut-step-up-pressure-clerical-rulers-2022-12-05/

6. https://iranwire.com/en/politics/110884-did-iran-really-disband-morality-police/

7. https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4029991/10-detained-protesters-iran-are-women%C2%A0%C2%A0

8. https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/iran-crisis-update-december-24

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