Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Iran’s National Security Council has halted the implementation of the controversial “Hijab and Chastity Law”, which was due to take effect on Friday.
President Massoud Pezeshkian called the legislation “ambiguous and in need of reform,” indicating his intention to reevaluate its measures.
The proposed new law – which would introduce tougher punishments for women and girls for exposing their hair, forearms or lower legs – had been widely criticized by rights activists.
The strict dress codes imposed on women and girls, which for decades have been treated as a national security priority by the rulers of the Islamic Republic of Iran, have previously sparked protests.
Under the new law, repeat offenders and anyone flouting the rules would face heavier fines and longer prison terms of up to 15 years in prison. It would also force companies to report anyone who breaks the rules.
Human rights groups have expressed alarm. Amnesty International said the Iranian authorities were “attempting to consolidate the already suffocating system of repression”.
During the July presidential election, then-candidate Pezeshkian openly criticized the treatment of Iranian women over the hijab issue.
He vowed not to interfere in their personal lives, a stance that resonated with many Iranians, especially a younger generation frustrated by the government’s rigid control.
Masoumeh Ebtekar, former vice president for women and family affairs, also criticized the law, saying, “The new legislation is an indictment of half of the Iranian population.”
The hijab debate gained further momentum last week when Parastoo Ahmadi, a popular Iranian singer, was arrested after broadcast a virtual concert without an audience present on YouTube without wearing the hijab.
The concert quickly went viral, and the arrest of Ahmadi and his bandmates sparked a widespread backlash. In the face of public protest, the authorities released them the next day.
Tensions surrounding the hijab have remained high since the 2022 nationwide protests sparked by the death of Mahsa “Zhina” Amini, a young Kurdish woman who died in police custody after being arrested for allegedly violating the dress code.
Over the past two years, many young Iranian women have gone out of their way to defy the hijab in public, defying the government’s authority.
Last week, more than 300 Iranian activists, writers and journalists publicly condemned the new hijab law, calling it “illegitimate and unenforceable” and urged Pezeshkian to fulfill her campaign promises.
Despite pressure from hardline factions close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, many young people in Iran appear unafraid to defy the regime’s restrictions.
Pezeshkian’s supporters believe the new hijab law will not discourage young women from challenging it and could even make the situation worse.
However, supporters of the legislation have pressed the president to move forward, criticizing the National Security Council’s hesitancy and demanding that he sign the law in order to clear the way for its implementation.
The decision to halt its implementation suggests the government fears it could trigger another wave of mass protests, like those seen two years ago.
