Islam Watch

Surveillance and Policing of Morality in Islamic Societies: A System of Control

Introduction: When Religion Becomes State Surveillance

In many Islamic countries, religion is not just a matter of personal faith — it is a matter of state enforcement. Women are monitored for wearing the hijab correctly, men are inspected for maintaining proper beard length, and citizens are pressured to attend prayers under the watchful eyes of religious police. This is not a matter of spiritual guidance; it is a system of religious surveillance that turns faith into coercion.

This post will expose how Islamic societies have transformed morality into a matter of state control, how religious police enforce conformity through intimidation and punishment, and how this system violates basic human rights and individual freedom.

1. The Origins of Moral Surveillance in Islam

1.1. Quranic Justifications for Enforcing Morality

The Quran provides a religious foundation for the enforcement of morality:
- Quran 3:104:
  - "Let there be a group among you who invite to what is good, enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong. They are the successful ones."
- Quran 9:71:
  - "The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong."
Islamic scholars have interpreted these verses as a divine command for Muslims to monitor each other’s behavior and enforce religious norms.

1.2. The Hadith on Monitoring Behavior

The Hadith (sayings of Muhammad) further emphasize the duty to enforce morality:
- Sahih Muslim 49:
  - "Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand. If he cannot, then with his tongue. If he cannot, then with his heart — and that is the weakest of faith."
Islamic scholars have used this Hadith to justify the establishment of religious police who monitor public behavior.

1.3. The Concept of "Hisbah" (Religious Policing)

Hisbah is an Islamic concept that refers to the duty of enjoining good and forbidding evil:
- It is the religious basis for establishing moral surveillance systems.
- The Muhtasib (moral inspector) is a religious official responsible for monitoring public behavior.
This concept has been institutionalized in many Islamic societies, transforming religious guidance into state surveillance.

2. The Religious Police: Enforcers of Islamic Morality

2.1. Saudi Arabia: The Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice

Saudi Arabia has one of the most notorious religious police forces:
- Officially known as the "Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice" (Mutawa).
- The Mutawa patrols public spaces, enforcing Islamic dress codes, preventing "improper" social interactions between men and women, and ensuring prayer compliance.
Examples of religious police enforcement:
- Women are fined, beaten, or arrested for not wearing the hijab correctly.
- Men are reprimanded for having "un-Islamic" hairstyles or for wearing Western clothing.
- Businesses are forced to close during prayer times, and citizens are pressured to attend prayers.

2.2. Iran: The Morality Police (Gasht-e Ershad)

In Iran, the Gasht-e Ershad (Guidance Patrol) is responsible for enforcing Islamic morality:
- Women are monitored for wearing the hijab properly.
- Men are inspected for maintaining proper beard length.
- Couples are stopped and questioned to ensure they are married.
The death of Mahsa Amini (2022), a young woman who died after being detained by the morality police for "improper hijab," sparked nationwide protests.

2.3. Afghanistan: The Taliban’s Religious Police

Under the Taliban (1996–2001, 2021–present), Afghanistan has a strict system of religious policing:
- Women are forced to wear the burqa (full-body covering with a mesh screen).
- Men are required to grow beards of a certain length.
- Music, dancing, and other forms of entertainment are banned.
The Taliban’s "Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice" enforces these rules with brutal violence.

2.4. Pakistan: The Cultural Enforcers

In Pakistan, religious groups and local authorities enforce Islamic morality:
- Women who appear in public without a hijab are harassed or assaulted.
- Couples are attacked for appearing together in public without being married.
- Blasphemy laws are used to silence critics of Islamic teachings.
In many areas, local clerics act as moral police, using their influence to control public behavior.

3. The Targets of Islamic Moral Surveillance

3.1. Women: Enforced Modesty and Hijab Policing

Women are the primary targets of Islamic moral surveillance:
- They are required to wear the hijab, niqab, or burqa, depending on local laws.
- Even in countries without mandatory hijab laws, women are pressured to cover through social harassment.
- Women who refuse to cover are blamed for "tempting men" and accused of immorality.

3.2. Men: Beard Length and Clothing Restrictions

Men are also targeted for violating Islamic dress codes:
- In Saudi Arabia, men are expected to maintain proper beard length.
- In Afghanistan, the Taliban enforce a strict beard policy.
- Men who wear Western clothing, jewelry, or hairstyles are punished.

3.3. Social Interactions: Policing Relationships

Couples who appear in public are monitored to ensure they are married:
- In Saudi Arabia, unmarried couples caught together can be arrested.
- In Iran, young couples are stopped and questioned by the morality police.
- In Afghanistan, public displays of affection are punished with lashes.

3.4. Prayer Compliance: Forced Worship

In many Islamic countries, citizens are pressured to attend prayers:
- In Saudi Arabia, businesses are forced to close during prayer times.
- The religious police ensure that men attend the mosque for Friday prayers.
- Those who do not attend prayers are shamed, harassed, or even punished.

4. The Psychological Impact of Moral Surveillance

4.1. The Loss of Personal Freedom

Constant surveillance creates a culture of fear:
- Women are afraid to appear in public without covering.
- Men are pressured to maintain Islamic dress and behavior.
- Couples must hide their relationships to avoid harassment.

4.2. The Destruction of Privacy

Personal decisions, such as how to dress or who to associate with, become matters of public scrutiny.
Even private behavior is monitored:
- In Saudi Arabia, religious police have raided private gatherings to enforce moral codes.
- In Iran, morality police monitor social media to identify "immodest" behavior.

4.3. The Internalization of Guilt and Shame

Those who are constantly monitored begin to internalize feelings of guilt and shame:
- Women feel ashamed of their bodies, believing that they must be covered to avoid sin.
- Men are pressured to maintain "Islamic masculinity," fearing criticism for any non-conformity.
- Citizens become accustomed to hiding their true beliefs and behavior.

5. Resistance and Rebellion: The Fight for Personal Freedom

5.1. The Iranian Women’s Movement

In Iran, women have protested against mandatory hijab laws for decades:
- The "White Wednesdays" movement encourages women to remove their hijabs as an act of defiance.
- The death of Mahsa Amini (2022) sparked nationwide protests, with women burning their hijabs in defiance.

5.2. The Underground Resistance in Saudi Arabia

Despite strict moral laws, Saudi women have resisted:
- Underground concerts, private gatherings, and secret relationships are common.
- Women have used social media to challenge the religious police.

5.3. The Defiance of Afghan Women

In Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, women continue to defy the burqa mandate:
- Some women refuse to cover their faces, risking beatings or arrest.
- Girls continue to attend underground schools, despite Taliban bans.

6. Conclusion: Surveillance Is Not Morality

Islamic moral surveillance is not about promoting true faith — it is about control. By transforming morality into a matter of state enforcement, Islamic societies replace spiritual guidance with coercion. Women are forced to cover, men are pressured to conform, and citizens are treated as suspects rather than free individuals.

For those who value personal freedom, Islamic moral surveillance is not a system of virtue — it is a system of oppression.