Iran News: Iran’s Regime Intensifies Pressure with Mandatory Hijab Enforcement
iran hijab control tunnel metro
Written by
Sedighe Shahrokhi
As internal conflicts within the ruling factions intensify and international and regional pressures increase, the Iranian regime aims to expand the enforcement of mandatory hijab as a measure to suppress social unrest.
Ahmadreza Radan, the chief of the State Security Forces, announced the implementation of a repressive scheme titled “Hijab and Chastity” to be enforced rigorously in all public spaces and venues starting from Saturday, April 13.
State-affiliated media outlets systematically reported Radan’s statement, quoting him as saying, “Police, while ensuring the observance of ethical standards and the privacy of chastity by the citizens, remind that it is inevitable, according to their duties, to legally confront the violators of hijab and chastity laws. Therefore, they are expected to respect the legal values and regulate their actions and attire within that framework.”
It is worth mentioning that Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the regime, had called on law enforcement and security agencies to “deal with religious norm violations” during his speech on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr.
Khamenei stated on April 10, “Certainly, the Islamic Republic system is not trying to forcibly convert anyone to religion, but it is also its duty to confront religious norm violations.”
Hijab and Chastity Bill: Parliamentary Commission Approves 39 Articles
The legal commission of mullahs’ parliament has so far examined/ adopted 39 of 70 articles renamed “Supporting the Family through Promotion of the Culture of Chastity and Hijab” bill.https://t.co/H1igiGcXvq— Women's Committee NCRI (@womenncri) August 16, 2023
Following the 2022 uprisings, the clerical regime prepared a draft law titled “Hijab and Chastity,” particularly targeting women, for further suppression of Iranian society. This bill, initially drafted in 9 articles by the regime’s judiciary and later expanded to 72 articles after review by the parliament’s judiciary commission, was sent for approval and implementation to the Guardian Council after being presented in the open session without debate.
In September 2022, following months of heightened oppressive measures by the so-called morality police, protests erupted after the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman detained for allegedly wearing her hijab too loosely.
Despite a violent crackdown by the regime, the protests persisted for months, transforming into a larger uprising against authoritarian governance, economic mismanagement, and human rights violations.
So far, various state institutions and bodies have refrained from implementing the “Hijab and Chastity Bill, postponing it due to fear of social backlash and the possibility of renewed protests. Hence, the officials’ emphasis on the execution of this plan underscores the regime’s serious concerns about societal conditions.
Iran News: Iran’s Regime Intensifies Pressure with Mandatory Hijab Enforcement