Iran blocks controversial new dress code law
Iran’s National Security Council has halted the implementation of the controversial “Hijab and Chastity Law”, which was due to come into force on Friday.
President Massoud Pezeshkian called the law “vague and in need of reform”, indicating his intention to reevaluate its measures.
The proposed new law – which would impose harsher penalties for women and girls exposing their hair, arms or lower legs – was heavily criticized by rights activists.
The strict dress code imposed on women and girls, which has been treated as a national security priority by the rulers of the Islamic Republic of Iran for decades, has previously sparked protests.
Under the new law, repeat violators and anyone flouting the rules will face hefty fines and lengthy prison terms of up to 15 years. It will also be mandatory for businesses to report anyone who violates the rules.
Human rights groups had expressed concern. Amnesty International said Iranian authorities were “trying to strengthen an already crippling system of repression”.
During the presidential election in July, then-candidate Pezeshkian openly criticized the treatment of Iranian women over the hijab issue.
He promised not to interfere in their private lives, a stance that appealed to many Iranians, especially the younger generation frustrated with the government’s tight control.
Masoumeh Ebtekar, former vice president for women and family affairs, also criticized the law, saying: “The new law is an indictment of half the Iranian population.”
The hijab debate gained momentum last week when Parastu Ahmadi, a popular Iranian singer, was arrested Streaming a virtual concert on YouTube without an audience while not wearing a hijab,
The concert quickly went viral and led to widespread reaction to the arrest of Ahmadi and his bandmates. Facing public outcry, authorities released him the next day.
Tensions over the hijab remain high following nationwide protests in 2022 due to the death of Mahsa “Zhina” Amini, a young Kurdish woman who died in police custody after being detained for allegedly violating the dress code. She was dead.
Over the past two years, many young Iranian women have taken off their hijabs in public, challenging government authority.
Last week, more than 300 Iranian rights activists, writers and journalists publicly condemned the new hijab law, calling it “illegitimate and unenforceable” and urging Pezeshkian to honor her campaign promises.
Despite pressure from fundamentalist factions close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, many young people in Iran are not afraid to face the regime’s sanctions.
Pezeshkian’s supporters believe the new hijab law will fail to discourage young women from protesting and could make the situation worse.
However, supporters of the legislation have pressured the President to move forward, criticizing the National Security Council’s hesitation and demanding that he sign the legislation to clear the way for its enforcement.
The decision to halt its implementation suggests the government fears it could trigger another wave of mass protests, like the one seen two years ago.
