Iran’s National Security Council has put the brakes on implementing the “hijab and chastity law” that was supposed to come into effect last Friday. This sudden suspension comes amid rising levels of opposition to the law in the country and abroad.
President Masoud Pezeshkian described the law as “ambiguous and in need of reform,” indicating plans to review its provisions. The law proposes strong penalties for women and girls who fail to fully cover their hair, genitals, or lower legs, including fines, long prison sentences of up to 15 years, and mandatory reporting by businesses.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have criticized the law. The group accused the Iranian authorities of “seeking to entrench an already suffocating system of repression.”
During her presidential campaign earlier this year, Pezeshkian voiced opposition to the government’s treatment of women regarding the hijab. He promised to respect personal freedom, a message that resonated with young Iranians, frustrated by years of government restrictions.
Masoumeh Ebtekar, the former vice president for women and family affairs, also criticized the law, calling it “the crime of half of the Iranian people.”
The hijab debate intensified after the arrest of Parastoo Ahmadi, a famous musicianlast week. Ahmadi performed a virtual concert on YouTube without wearing a hijab. The news spread quickly, and his subsequent arrest, along with his bandmates, sparked public outrage. Authorities released them a day later following widespread backlash.
Controversy surrounding the hijab has remained high since the 2022 protests sparked by the death of Mahsa “Zhina” Amini, a young Kurdish woman who died in police custody after allegedly violating dress codes. Since then, many young Iranian women have openly defied hijab laws, challenging the government’s authority.
More than 300 Iranian activists, writers, and journalists recently signed a statement calling the proposed law “illegal and unenforceable,” urging President Pezeshkian to fulfill his campaign promises, BBC report.
While hardliners close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have insisted on the implementation of the law, the decision to postpone its implementation suggests officials fear a resurgence of the large-scale protests seen two years ago.
The president’s supporters argue that the law is unlikely to stem dissent and could fuel tensions, as younger generations in Iran appear unafraid to defy the regime’s restrictions.
(with comments from the BBC)
Why should you buy our Subscription?
You want to be the smartest in the room.
You want access to award-winning journalism.
You don’t want to be misled and misinformed.
Choose your subscription package