Hijab Bill To Target Government Officials

An Iranian lawmaker says the “Chastity and Hijab” bill will extend to government officials not supporting the crackdown on hijab refusers.

“Our main and most serious argument in this bill is to tackle professional hijab criminals”, Mehdi Baqeri, a member of the Judiciary Commission of the Iranian Parliament, told Rouydad24 news website.

He blamed governmental institutions in Iran for not meeting their obligations with regard to the implementation of compulsory hijab laws, adding that in case of the final ratification of the “Chastity and Hijab” bill, the officials negligent on their hijab duties will face legal measures.

According to the lawmaker, the bill will criminalize the government officials’ “shortcomings and inefficiencies” regarding hijab enforcement and they can even be fired from their jobs.

We have companies in Iran that promote “the culture of nudity” by producing “unconventional” and “vulgar” clothes, and there are people who sell these items, Bagheri added, urging the “severe and harsh” punishment of both groups.

In September, the Iranian parliament green lit a bill titled “Protection of Family Through Promotion of Hijab and Chastity Culture.” Initially introduced by the government and subsequently amended by parliamentary hardliners, the legislation outlined penalties, including substantial fines, for women diverging from the prescribed Islamic dress code.

Unexpectedly, the constitutionally mandated 12-member Guardian Council, wielding ultimate authority over legislation, rejected the bill. The Council cited formal deficiencies, including the ambiguity of specific terms in the text, prompting a call for parliamentary revisions.

While some speculate that the rejection stems from formal issues, others posit that the Guardian Council may be cautious about potential increased public discontent before the upcoming parliamentary elections in March.