In an escalating wave of business shutdowns and public space closures across Iran, three cafes in Mashhad, Bojnourd, and Birjand have been sealed by authorities. Failure to enforce mandatory hijab regulations has been cited among the primary justifications for these actions.
Human rights news agency HRANA reported on Monday, August 10, 2026, that a cafe in Mashhad and the "Arkia" cafe-restaurant in Bojnourd were shut down by relevant authorities in recent days.
According to HRANA, the cafe in Mashhad was closed under pretexts including the omission of matcha drinks from the official price list and the absence of the "Health Apple" safety seal for cakes and desserts.
Meanwhile, the "Arkia" cafe-restaurant in Bojnourd was sealed without official cause provided by authorities, amid a broader intensification of crackdowns on commercial establishments, businesses, social media pages, and public venues in recent weeks.
Concurrently, the IRIB News Agency reported the closure of a cafe in Birjand County. According to the report, the venue was sealed on the morning of Monday, August 10, by order of the Birjand Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor for non-compliance with mandatory hijab requirements.
