Tehran – Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has criticized the country’s hijab regulations. He expressed doubts about the new law regarding the hijab, which includes harsher penalties for violators.
According to AFP, on Tuesday (December 3, 2024), Pezeshkian voiced his concerns over the new legislation that imposes tougher punishments for women who violate the compulsory hijab rule in Iran. He believes the strict hijab laws could lead to negative consequences for society.
Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, women in Iran have been required to cover their hair in public spaces. However, in recent times, an increasing number of women have been seen in public without the hijab. This trend escalated after the widespread protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died while in custody of Iran’s moral police in September 2022. Amini was detained for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code.
“As the person responsible for formalizing this law, I have many doubts about it,” Pezeshkian said in an interview with Iran’s state TV on Monday night (December 2, 2024).
The new law in question addresses “hijab and chastity.” It requires the signature of Iran’s president by December 13 to be enacted officially.
While the full text of the new law has not yet been published, local media in Iran report that the law mandates fines equivalent to 20 months’ average wages for women who fail to wear the hijab properly or do not wear it at all in public or on social media. Violators are also required to pay the fines within 10 days, or face travel bans and restrictions on public services, such as being unable to obtain a driver’s license.
“We risk damaging many things in society with this law,” Pezeshkian stated.
He emphasized that Iran’s leaders should avoid actions that could alienate the public. Pezeshkian, who has served as president of Iran since July, has promised to dissolve the moral police. However, he has not yet announced whether he will sign the new hijab law. Additionally, the moral police, who arrested Amini before her death, have largely disappeared from the streets since the protests erupted, though they have not officially been disbanded by the Iranian government.
The Iranian parliament had previously approved a law that imposes harsher penalties for women who violate the hijab rule. Under this law, individuals deemed to be wearing inappropriate clothing in public face a maximum of 10 years in prison.
According to CNN, the hijab law was passed by the Iranian parliament on Wednesday (September 20, 2023), just days after the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death. The law, known as the “Hijab Law,” will be enforced on a trial basis for three years.
The law sets various regulations concerning clothing in public spaces. Those who violate the rules could face up to 10 years in prison.
Not only does the law regulate the proper wearing of the hijab for women in public, but it also governs how men should dress in public. The law prohibits men from wearing “open clothing that reveals parts of the body lower than the chest or above the ankle.”
Men and women who violate the law will face fines, which will increase progressively for repeated offenses. The new law also outlines penalties for celebrities and business owners who fail to comply.
Those who collaborate with foreign media or governments to promote nudity, improper hijabs, or indecent clothing will face a maximum of 10 years in prison. Meanwhile, those found guilty of mocking or ridiculing the hijab could face fines and a potential travel ban for up to two years.
Some parts of the law are considered ambiguous by various parties. For example, the law is criticized for failing to define what constitutes “half-naked” in public, which is categorized as a crime punishable by “level four” prison sentences.
Under Iran’s criminal law, level four punishment can range from 5 to 10 years in prison, and fines ranging from 180 million rial (approximately 65.5 million IDR) to 360 million rial (approximately 131 million IDR).
“Anyone who appears naked or half-naked in public, in public places or on the streets, or appears in a way that is traditionally considered naked, will be immediately arrested,” reads Article 50 of the Hijab Law.
The Hijab Law also targets “socially influential” individuals, who, if found guilty of violating the law, will face potential level four prison sentences and fines ranging from 1% to 5% of their total assets.
The law also extends to dolls and toys that are banned from depicting indecent content. However, the Iranian Guardian Council, which oversees legislative affairs in the country, must still approve the law before it can be widely implemented. All bills passed by parliament must be reviewed and approved by the Guardian Council to become law.
