Iran adopted text tightening sanctions against women who do not wear veils

Four days after the first anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman who died on September 16, 2022 after being arrested by morality police on charges of violating the dress code, the Iranian parliament approved the bill on Wednesday. According to official media reports, the issue of tightening sanctions against women who do not wear the mandatory hijab in public places has been discussed for several months.

“Deputies approved the implementation of the bill on hijab and chastity for a trial period of three years,” the Irna news agency pointed out, while the government toughened its tone against the increase in the number of women going out on the street with their heads uncovered, especially in large cities. The bill toughens penalties for those prosecuted for violating the strict dress code imposed on women, one of the ideological pillars of the Islamic Republic since the fall of the Shah in 1979.

Sanctions against “hijab bullying”

As such, it imposes financial penalties for “promoting nudity” or “mockery of the hijab” in the media and social networks, as well as fines and travel bans for business owners whose employees do not wear the burqa.

At best, “any person who” commits the crime of “not wearing a veil or wearing inappropriate clothing in collaboration with governments, media, groups or organizations foreign or hostile” to the Islamic Republic, “or in an organized manner, will be sentenced to imprisonment.” imprisonment in the fourth degree,” meaning 5 to 10 years, is specified in the bill. To become law, the bill must be approved by the Guardian Council of the Constitution.