News report -24/03

United Nations: Digital surveillance used to monitor hijab compliance in Iran 

United Nations reports have raised concerns over the use of digital surveillance against girls and women in Iran, states Iran International. On March 18, reports by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran were presented to the Human Rights Council in Geneva. The reports discussed the “continued criminalisation, surveillance and continued repression” of protesters, especially girls and women, in the aftermath of the Women, Life, Freedom protests that began in 2022, explained the OHCHR. Intensifying surveillance and “expanded restrictions on digital space” were highlighted. According to the BBC that cited the UN investigators, digital surveillance is used through a strategy of “state-sponsored vigilantism," encouraging people to use the phone app Nazer that allows them to report women not complying with the dress code, for instance in private vehicles such as taxis and ambulances. Surveillance is also conducted using drones and security cameras in Tehran and southern Iran, with examples citing facial recognition software at Tehran’s Amirkabir University to recognize unveiled women. Iran International noted that the state has expanded its surveillance beyond its borders to silence human rights defenders and journalists abroad. The Fact-Finding Mission urged the Human Rights Council to appoint a new independent body to continue investigating human rights violations in Iran.

Sources: Iran International, OHCHR, BBC

US strikes on Yemen in response to Houthi Red Sea attacks 

On March 16, the US launched a series of airstrikes on Yemen, killing at least 53 people and injuring others. The BBC cited US National Security Advisor Michael Waltz saying that the strikes "targeted multiple Houthi leaders and took them out."  The Houthis accused the US of  "wicked" aggression on residential areas in the capital, Sanaa, adding that victims included women and children. According to the BBC, the attacks targeted the group in Al Jaouf and Hudaydah in what President Trump called a response to the Houthis’ attacks on ships in the Red Sea. According to AP News, the Houthis have said that the attacks on merchant vessels aim to end Israel’s war against Hamas. As per the BBC, the group has stated it will continue to target Red Sea shipping until Israel lifts its blockade of Gaza. According to AP News, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that “we’re doing the entire world a favor by getting rid of these guys and their ability to strike global shipping.” The clashes between the US and the Iran-affiliated Houthis also highlight a growing regional tension: According to Al Jazeera, Trump stated that “Washington will view ‘every shot’ fired by the Houthis as a shot fired by Iran that could bring about ‘dire consequences’.”

On March 24, the Israeli military stated that Israel had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack launched towards Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, as per Reuters. The Houthis also claimed, without proof, having carried out strikes against the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea. The Houthi attacks come in response to the strikes launched by the US and the escalation of Israeli hostilities in Gaza. 

Sources: BBC, AP News, Reuters, Al Jazeera

Israel resumes attacks on Gaza as ceasefire fails 

On March 18, Israel resumed airstrikes on Gaza, killing at least 637 people since. The attacks are the heaviest since the beginning of the ceasefire on January 19. According to the BBC, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was attacking "terror targets" belonging to Hamas, while Le Monde cited the Gaza health ministry stating that most of the victims were Palestinian women and children. On March 23, Israel launched ground operations across the Gaza Strip, issuing evacuation warnings to residents of certain areas for instance in Rafah. According to ABC News, instructing the IDF to seize land, Defense Minister Israel Katz suggested that the longer Hamas holds Israeli hostages, the more land will be seized. According to The Times of Israel, Katz said that if the hostages are not released and Hamas is not removed from Gaza, “Israel will operate with strength you have not yet seen.”

The March 18 strikes came after stage one of the ceasefire, brokered by the US, Egypt and Qatar, ended on March 1. The BBC noted that negotiations for stage two didn’t take place 16 days after the beginning of stage one as planned. According to the BBC, the Israeli prime minister's office stated that the airstrikes were ordered due to Hamas's "repeated refusal to release our hostages" and rejection of new ceasefire proposals. Hamas responded by saying that Israel had "decided to overturn the ceasefire agreement". According to Al Jazeera, entering phase two of the ceasefire “would have required Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza,” as agreed to in the deal. Le Monde stated that Israel blocked humanitarian aid from entering Gaza in order to pressure Hamas to accept new Israeli terms to the ceasefire and the release of the remaining hostages. 

Sources: BBC, ABC News, The Times of Israel, Le Monde, Al Jazeera