Fearing Protests, Iran Postpones Controversial Hijab Law For Women | Photo- Reuters Fearing Protests, Iran Postpones Controversial Hijab Law For Women | Photo- Reuters Iran has postponed the enforcement of a new, stricter law mandating women to wear the hijab. The move comes amid concerns that the law could spark protestspeso luck, specially by those triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022.
The law, which was approved by parliament in September 2023, will not be sent to the government this week as initially scheduled. This effectively halts its implementation, as reported by AP.
The proposed law includes harsher penalties for women who fail to wear the hijab, as well as for businesses that serve them. Iran's reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian had previously opposed such penalties while trying to revive negotiations with Western countries over nuclear sanctions.
ALSO READ |Iran Hijab Row: 15 Years Jail, Death Penalty, Hefty Fines On Violation Of Morality Laws| War Against Women
Government’s Statement“According to the discussions held, it was decided that this law will not be referred to the government by the parliament for now,” Shahram Dabiri, the vice president responsible for parliamentary affairs, told the pro-reform Ham Mihan daily in an interview on Monday.
India had earlier defeated New Zealand 3-2 in their opener before securing a 1-1 draw against Argentina.
BY Outlook Sports Desk
Dabiri also explained that the decision to pause the law, at least temporarily, was reached by top executive, legislative, and judicial bodies. He said, at present, it is “not feasible to implement this bill", though he did not provide further details.
If the bill had been forwarded to the government, the president would have had limited options. By law, he would have been required to approve the bill within five days, after which it would have taken effect within 15 days.
While the president does not have veto power over such bills, he could appeal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds the final authority on state matters, to stop the bill. The president had previously described the law as having “many questions and ambiguities".
Potential Consequences of the LawThe proposed law includes severe penalties for women who do not comply with the hijab mandate. Fines of USD 800 would be imposed for first offenses, with penalties escalating to USD 1,500 for second offenses, and prison sentences of up to 15 years for third offenses. Celebrities and public figures could face confiscation of 8 percent of their net worth, while businesses serving women without hijabs could face closure and fines. Offenders could also be subject to travel bans.
In addition, the law would have allowed foreign nationals in Iran, including millions of Afghan refugees, to act as informers to report women who do not wear the hijab. Business owners and taxi drivers would be encouraged to report uncovered women or face monetary fines themselves.
The scope of the law, which was designed to last for three years, is striking even by the standards of the Islamic Republic. It would also grant police access to private surveillance footage, including material recorded by security forces, the Ministry of Defence, and Iran's civilian nuclear agency.
Read More | Explainer: Iran's New 'Hijab Bill'
jilislot Historical ContextThe announcement comes in the wake of Mahsa Amini’s tragic death on September 16, 2022, following her arrest by Iran's morality police for allegedly violating the country’s hijab regulations. While Iran denies responsibility for her death and disputes that she was beaten, United Nations investigators have concluded that Amini “was subjected to physical violence that led to her death". The crackdown that followed resulted in over 500 deaths and more than 22,000 detentions.
Despite the strict enforcement of hijab laws, many Iranian women have increasingly defied the regulations in public, walking with their hair uncovered in protestpeso luck, despite the ongoing threat of arrest or harassment.