Several female members of Iran's National Library have reportedly received a text message informing them that their membership was suspended due to their improperly wearing a head scarf, which amounts to a violation of the compulsory hijab law.
In response, members of the National Library protested on February 13, saying that the suspension of the membership of several women amounted to "an organized step by public institutions to expand the gender apartheid of the Islamic republic."
The suspended members are Iranian researchers and academics who use the unique resources of the National Library for research purposes.
The hijab -- the head covering worn by Muslim women -- became compulsory in public for Iranian women and girls over the age of 9 after the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
Many Iranian women have flouted the rule over the years in protest and pushed the boundaries of what officials say is acceptable clothing.
In recent weeks, numerous reports have been published detailing moves by the authorities to shut down businesses, restaurants, cafes, and, in some cases, even pharmacies because owners or managers failed to observe Islamic laws and mandatory hijab rules.
The reports come after the months of public anger that erupted after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in September in custody after being detained by the morality police in Tehran for "improperly" wearing a head scarf.
Iranians have since flooded streets across the country in protest, with women and even schoolgirls putting up unprecedented shows of defiance in what appears to be the the biggest threat to the Islamic government since the 1979 revolution.
In response, the authorities have launched a brutal crackdown on dissent, detaining thousands and handing down stiff sentences, including the death penalty, to protesters.