Iran’s National Security Council has suspended the implementation of the controversial “hijab and chastity” law, which was due to come into force on Friday.
President Massoud Pezeshkian called the law “unclear and in need of reform,” indicating his intention to re-examine its measures.
The proposed new law – which would bring harsh punishments to women and girls for exposing their hair, shoulders or lower legs – has been widely criticized by rights activists.
The strict dress code imposed on women and girls, which has been considered a national security priority by the rulers of the Islamic Republic of Iran for decades, has previously sparked protests.
Under the new law, repeat offenders and anyone flouting the laws would face heavy fines and lengthy prison terms of up to 15 years. It will also mandate that businesses report anyone who breaks the rules.
Human rights organizations have expressed alarm. Amnesty International said the Iranian authorities “want to deepen an already suffocating system of repression”.
During the presidential election in July, candidate Pezeshkian openly criticized the treatment of Iranian women over the hijab issue.
He promised not to interfere in their lives, a situation that resonated with many Iranians, especially from a younger generation frustrated by the government’s tight control.
Masoumeh Ebtekar, former vice president for women and family affairs, also criticized the law, saying: “This new law is an accusation against half of the Iranian people.”
The hijab debate gained momentum last week when Parastoo Ahmadi, a famous Iranian singer, was arrested after being arrested. she broadcasts a virtual concert without an audience on YouTube without wearing a hijab.
The concert went quickly and the arrest of Ahmadi and his colleagues sparked a huge backlash. Faced with public outcry, the authorities released them the next day.
Tensions over the hijab have remained high since nationwide protests in 2022 sparked by the death of Mahsa “Zhina” Amini, a young Kurdish woman who died in police custody after being arrested for allegedly violating dress codes.
In the past two years, many young Iranian women have removed their hijabs in public, challenging the government’s authority.
Last week, more than 300 Iranian rights activists, writers and journalists publicly criticized the new hijab law, calling it “illegal and unenforceable” and urged Pezeshkian to honor his campaign promises.
Despite pressure from hardline groups close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, many young people in Iran seem unafraid to confront the regime’s restrictions.
Pezeshkian’s supporters believe the new hijab law will fail to discourage young women from disobeying it and could make the situation worse.
However, supporters of this law forced the president to go ahead, criticizing the reluctance of the National Security Council, demanding that he sign the law to pave the way for it to be implemented.
The decision to suspend its operation suggests that the government fears that it may trigger another wave of mass protests, like those seen two years ago.
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