Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced that the Iranian parliament will next month promulgate the Hijab and Chastity Law, which will impose new fines for those who violate mandatory hijab rules. The parliament plans to formally refer the law to President Massoud Pezeshkian on December 14. Pezeshkian must sign the law and implement it within five days.
IF THE CRIME IS REPEATED, A SECOND PUNISHMENT WILL BE APPLIED
According to the news on NTV; According to the Iran International news site, the law, which was passed by the parliament in September 2022 and approved by Iran’s Guardian Council at the end of September this year, faced delays as authorities weighed public reaction.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a hardline and former top Revolutionary Guard commander, said implementing the law would prevent direct confrontation with women, a controversial practice that has sparked mass protests.
Ghalibaf said, “If an opening action occurs, first a text message will be sent as a warning, and then a second warning will be made. Although a fine is recorded for the first offense, it is not initially imposed. “However, if the crime is repeated, a second penalty will be applied,” he said.
The parliament speaker also stated that headscarf patrols have been abolished and the provisions have been “clarified in a transparent and detailed manner.”
ANNIVERSARY OF MAHSA AMINI PROTESTS
The law imposes fines starting at 30 million riyals (about $45) for a first violation.
For repeated violations, fines of up to 240 million riyals (approximately $350) are foreseen.
Fines imposed through automated systems represent a huge burden in a country where average monthly salaries range between $170 and $200.
Ghalibaf pointed to the anniversary of the protests that broke out after the death of Mahsa Amini in custody in 2022 for the timing of the official announcement of the law.
He said the timing was adjusted to take into account security considerations tied to the protests.
In the mass demonstrations that continued in the months that followed, many women publicly flouted the mandatory Islamic dress code.
MANY WOMEN ARE CHALLENGING
In his statement yesterday, Ghalibaf criticized the failure of most institutions to enforce previous laws regarding the headscarf, saying only that the police were fulfilling their duties, although there were shortcomings from time to time.
However, question marks remain regarding the infrastructure required for the application. Advanced equipment such as security cameras remains limited.
Ghalibaf acknowledged the shortcomings but stated that measures were being taken to ensure implementation.
The law faces strong popular resistance, especially since the ongoing Women, Life, Freedom movement following Amini’s death.
Despite government crackdowns that include closing businesses and confiscating vehicles in connection with hijab violations, many women openly defy the hijab mandate.
THEY ARE REVEALED ON SOCIAL MEDIA
According to official reports, at least 3,500 vehicles were seized because their passengers violated headscarf laws.
Despite these pressures, many women continue to resist with acts of civil disobedience such as uncovering their headscarves in public, sharing their uncovered photos on social media, and participating in protests.
The challenge underscores a backlash against what many perceive as a symbol of oppression, as widespread opposition to official interventions into women’s rights and civil liberties grows in the country.