Iran’s National Security Council has postponed the enforcement of the contentious “hijab and chastity law,” which had been scheduled to take effect on Friday.
President Massoud Pezeshkian described the legislation as “ambiguous and in need of reform,” signaling his intention to reassess its provisions.
The proposed law, which aimed to impose stricter penalties on women and girls for showing their hair, forearms, or lower legs, drew strong criticism from rights groups.
Repeat offenders and those mocking the dress code would have faced harsher fines and prison sentences of up to 15 years. Additionally, the law would require businesses to report individuals violating the rules.
Amnesty International expressed concern, accusing Iranian authorities of “seeking to entrench the already suffocating system of repression.”
Critics of the law included Masoumeh Ebtekar, a former vice-president for women and family affairs, who remarked that the legislation amounted to “an indictment of half the Iranian population.”
President Pezeshkian, who had criticized the government’s treatment of women during his election campaign in July, vowed not to interfere in personal choices—a stance that resonated with many younger Iranians frustrated by the regime’s rigid control.
“This law requires serious review,” Pezeshkian stated, reflecting the growing divide over the issue.
The hijab debate recently intensified when popular Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi was arrested after performing a YouTube concert without wearing the hijab.
The video quickly went viral, sparking widespread backlash. Authorities released Ahmadi and her bandmates the next day following public outrage.
Tensions over the hijab have remained high since the 2022 nationwide protests ignited by the death of Mahsa “Zhina” Amini, a Kurdish woman who died in police custody after being detained for allegedly violating the dress code.
Over the past two years, many young Iranian women have openly defied the rules, removing their hijabs in public.
Last week, over 300 Iranian activists, writers, and journalists issued a joint statement condemning the new law as “illegitimate and unenforceable” while urging President Pezeshkian to uphold his campaign promises.
The president’s supporters argue that enforcing the law would likely backfire, escalating defiance among younger Iranians.
Despite mounting pressure from hardline factions allied with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the government appears wary of sparking a new wave of mass protests.
Postponing the law’s implementation, according to analysts, reflects concerns over potential unrest akin to the uprisings seen two years ago.
Source-BBC
