TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran has announced it will pause the implementation of its controversial new hijab law, which could have imposed severe punishments on women for non-compliance. This decision was unveiled by Shahram Dabiri, the vice president responsible for parliamentary affairs, who revealed to the pro-reform Ham Mihan daily the news of the legislative halt. According to Dabiri, “It was decided this law will not be referred to the government for now.”
The halted legislation was initially approved by Iran’s parliament back in September 2023, and many believed it had the potential to reignite protests mirroring those witnessed after the tragic death of Mahsa Amini. Amini, who died on September 16, 2022, after being detained by the country’s morality police for allegedly failing to wear her hijab according to official standards, sparked nationwide outcry and unrest. The recent developments signal the Iranian government’s restraint amid the heightened tensions surrounding women’s rights and societal norms.
The decision to pause the hijab law appears to be borne from significant internal discussions among senior executive, legislative, and judiciary bodies. Dabiri emphasized, “At the moment, it is not feasible to implement this bill,” without disclosing specific reasons for this conclusion. Observers note this delay may grant breathing room for Iran’s reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, who had previously expressed concerns about the law, describing it as having “many questions and ambiguities.”
Had the bill advanced to the government, Pezeshkian would have been required by law to endorse it within five days, after which it would come to effect within fifteen days. Importantly, the Iranian president lacks the authority to veto parliamentary decisions. Many feared the president could be caught between hard-liners favoring stringent enforcement of hijab laws and his reformist inclination to promote dialogue with Western powers over sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear program.
The measures outlined by the now-suspended law were especially draconian. It stipulated fines ranging from $800 for first offenses to $1,500 for second offenses, with repeat offenders facing prison sentences of up to fifteen years. Public figures and celebrities were also potentially subjected to significant financial penalties, with as much as 8% of their net worth on the line for non-compliance. Businesses serving women not wearing headscarves faced fines or even possible closure.
Even more alarming, the proposed law sought to involve foreign nationals residing in Iran—including the millions of Afghans—as informants for reporting women not adhering to hijab laws. Business owners and taxi drivers would have been incentivized to monitor and report uncovered women, incurring fines themselves if they failed to do so. This depth of the surveillance included provisions for accessing personal security footage, raising fears of invasive governmental oversight.
The backdrop to this legislative upheaval is marked by the societal shift following Mahsa Amini’s death. Widespread protests erupted across the nation, resulting not only in more than 500 lives lost but also over 22,000 arrests as the Iranian government conducted severe crackdowns on dissent. Strike figures have reported the growing trend of women defying existing hijab laws, with many appearing on the streets without head coverings, spurred by the post-Amini activism even amid the threat of legal repercussions.
The public reaction to the proposed law had been fraught with tension, as it epitomized the broader struggles within Iranian society concerning women’s rights. The legislative body’s decision to freeze its advancement signals potential acknowledgment from the government of the volatility of public sentiment and civil resistance. Observers are left questioning what this delay may mean for Iran’s political climate and future governance.
The evolution of laws surrounding key social issues will remain closely monitored, not only by Iranian citizens seeking greater freedoms but also by the international community. The fate of the hijab law and its broader ramifications could continue to shape the dialogue around women's rights and state authority within Iran.
With political leaders now reassessing their approach to such contentious legislation, the interplay between maintaining traditional norms and addressing modern societal demands remains precarious. The future of the hijab law, once on the brink of stringent enforcement, now hangs uncertain, illustrating the precarious balance the Iranian government must navigate amid intense scrutiny and public outcry.
