Iran Tightens Grip on Hijab Law Amid Growing Defiance

Iran has passed a new hijab law, sparking widespread concern and defiance among women. The law, consisting of 71 articles, strengthens the government's control over women's attire and behavior.

Iran's parliament has approved a controversial law that mandates women to wear the hijab in public and imposes harsh penalties on those who don't comply. This law, known as the “hijab and chastity bill,” is the latest development in Iran's decades-long enforcement of strict dress codes for women.

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, women in Iran have been required to cover their hair in public. However, in recent years, especially since the 2022 death of Iranian-Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini in police custody, many women have chosen to defy this mandate and forego wearing the hijab.

The new law introduces severe penalties for non-compliance, including fines ranging from 20 million to 500 million Iranian rials (approximately $31 to $790 USD) and imprisonment of up to 10 years. These measures have sparked widespread criticism, with many arguing that the law is a blatant attempt to restrict women's freedoms and perpetuate patriarchal norms.

Human Rights Watch has condemned the law, stating that it “will only breed fierce resistance and defiance among women in and outside Iran.” The organization has urged the international community to demand that Iran stop implementing the law and instead ensure that women and girls are no longer discriminated against for their choice of dress.

A growing trend of women defying hijab regulations has become increasingly apparent in Iran. The death of Jina Mahsa Amini in 2022 sparked widespread protests, led primarily by women and schoolgirls, demanding political change and an end to the strict hijab mandate.

The protests also gave rise to the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement, which boldly challenged the authorities' enforcement of the hijab law. This movement marked a significant turning point in the struggle for women's rights in Iran, as women from all walks of life came together to demand greater freedom and autonomy.

In response to the growing defiance, the Iranian judiciary drafted the hijab and chastity bill on the instructions of former President Ebrahim Raisi. This bill aims to strengthen the enforcement of hijab regulations and impose harsh penalties on those who refuse to comply. The move is seen as an attempt to reassert control over women's bodies and behavior in Iran.

Iran's new hijab law imposes severe penalties on women who don't wear the hijab properly or forego it altogether in public or on social media. The law states that fines can be equivalent to up to 20 months' average salary, which must be paid within 10 days. If the fine isn't paid, women will face restrictions on accessing government services like passports, driving licenses, and exit permits.

According to Mary Mohammadi, a US-based Iranian political analyst, the law aims to hinder women's progress by making their struggle too costly. “It seeks to prevent the advancement of women's demands, bolster the morale of the regime's ideological supporters, exhaust the psyche of society by creating all-encompassing conflicts in daily life, and weaken the revolutionary potential led by women,” she told DW.

The new law consists of 71 articles that strengthen the government's control over women's lives, imposing harsh penalties for non-compliance. These penalties include fines, imprisonment, and restrictions on employment and educational opportunities. The law also extends its reach into digital spaces, penalizing behaviors that promote violations of hijab regulations online.

Iran's new law takes a harsh stance on items deemed to promote “nudity” or lack of veiling, criminalizing the design or promotion of clothing, statues, and toys that don't comply with hijab regulations. The Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade will monitor clothing producers and suppliers to ensure their garments meet the requirements.

Interestingly, this law was passed just four months into Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian's term. Pezeshkian, who's seen as aligned with the reformist movement advocating for greater freedoms and better relations with the West, had actually criticized the strict enforcement of hijab during his election campaign. This development raises questions about the direction of Pezeshkian's presidency and its impact on women's rights in Iran.

The fate of Iran's compulsory hijab law now hangs in the balance as it awaits President Pezeshkian's signature. Many of his supporters had hoped his administration would ease the pressures surrounding the law, but critics argue that its enforcement lies beyond the government's direct control.

Mary Mohammadi, a US-based Iranian political analyst, offers a nuanced perspective on the situation. “In a broader view, the disagreement over its implementation between the hardliners in the Islamic Parliament and the so-called reformist Pezeshkian in the administration is a staged display of internal regime conflicts over the mandatory hijab law,” she said. This internal conflict highlights the deep divisions within Iran's government on issues like women's rights and personal freedoms.

Despite heightened threats and increased surveillance, many Iranian women continue to defy the compulsory hijab law. Over two years have passed since the death of Mahsa Jina Amini, but her legacy lives on in the courageous actions of these women. As Mohammadi poignantly puts it, “In practice, Iranian women themselves have eliminated compromise and tolerance from their options, defining only two paths for themselves: death or freedom.”

The Iranian parliament has forwarded the law to President Pezeshkian, who must sign it before it can take effect. However, the president has the constitutional authority to withhold notification to relevant agencies, effectively delaying the law's enforcement. This move could potentially buy time for Pezeshkian's administration to reassess the law and its implications for Iranian women.

Activists and women's rights advocates are calling on President Pezeshkian to use his authority to block the implementation of Iran's new hijab law. This law has sparked widespread concern, as it imposes harsh penalties on women who don't wear the hijab properly or forego it altogether in public or on social media.

The restrictions and pressures on women in Iran are ongoing, and this law has only amplified concerns among some officials within the Islamic Republic. Many anticipate that opposition to the legislation will go beyond social media, potentially sparking a new wave of street protests across the country.

President Pezeshkian had previously pledged to ease the enforcement of the mandatory hijab during his campaign, but critics argue that his promise was empty rhetoric. The Iranian parliament has passed the controversial hijab and chastity bill, which means that violating the hijab law can carry a fine of up to $50.

Under the new law, women who appear in public without properly wearing the hijab can face fines ranging from $24 to $790, depending on the frequency of the violation. If the violation is repeated more than four times, the penalties escalate to up to one billion 500 million rials ($2,380), a travel ban of up to two years, prohibition from online activities up to two years, and up to five years in prison.

The international community has condemned the new law, with Human Rights Watch urging Iran to stop its implementation and ensure that women and girls no longer face discrimination and abuses for their choice of dress.

Key Provisions of the New Law:

Increased Penalties: Women who refuse to wear hijab in public or online can face stiff fines and prison sentences of up to a decade.

Expanded Definition of “Nudity”: The law equates refusing to wear hijab with "nudity," further restricting women's freedom of choice.

Crackdown on Supporters: Iranians, including businesses and individuals, who promote or support women's defiance of the hijab law can face penalties.

The new law has been met with fierce resistance from women in Iran, who continue to challenge the government's strict dress code policies.