In recent weeks Iran’s hard‑line clerics and politicians have intensified calls to re‑impose strict public dress rules for women, labeling uncovered heads as “public nudity.” Yet the enforcement response has been limited, as the regime focuses on the ongoing conflict with the United States, a deepening economic crisis, and a reorganization of its security apparatus under Mojtaba Khamenei.
Local businesses feel the pressure
State media have reported a series of cafe and restaurant closures for allegedly failing to enforce the mandatory hijab. Human‑rights monitor HRANA documented at least seven Tehran eateries shut down on July 19 for non‑compliance, and a boutique was ordered closed earlier this month for “unveiling.” In South Khorasan Province, provincial prosecutors said ten cafes were closed for violating “social norms and mandatory hijab rules.” Authorities cite vague charges such as “violation of modesty” and “failure to observe Islamic decency,” making enforcement appear discretionary.
Women’s defiance continues
Videos circulating on social media show young women riding scooters without headscarves, often wearing helmets and casual clothing. One Instagram post featured a group calling themselves the “motorcycle girls of Shiraz,” while another highlighted a convoy of about 20 female riders in Isfahan, billed as the city’s largest female motorcycle gathering. These displays suggest that many women are not intimidated by official warnings.
At a small rally in Isfahan, a placard read, “Netanyahu: Unveiled women are our soldiers for free,” echoing hard‑line rhetoric that frames uncovered women as disloyal. The slogan, however, is not an actual statement from the Israeli leader.
Official voices weigh in
Religious leaders continue to stress the cultural importance of the hijab. Friday‑prayer speaker Mohammad Javad Haj Ali Akbari warned of organized efforts to promote “nudity” and claimed some individuals are paid to appear publicly without proper dress. Kayhan editor Hossein Shariatmadari wrote that enforcing the dress code is both a legal obligation and a religious duty.
Conversely, President Masoud Pezeshkian, citing an interview with a conservative cleric, questioned whether laws could change personal behavior. He asked, “Does it mean I should force my daughter?” and answered, “Changing behavior is a cultural matter; it’s about belief. You can’t create belief in people through force.” Former MP Gholamali Jafarzadeh Imanabadi argued officials should prioritize inflation and livelihoods over dress‑code enforcement.
Legal backdrop
Article 638 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code criminalizes women appearing in public without an “Islamic hijab,” though the law does not define the term precisely. A tougher 2024 amendment that would have expanded penalties and surveillance was halted after intervention by the Supreme National Security Council, prompting hard‑liners to push for renewed enforcement.
Human‑rights groups, including Amnesty International, have described the state’s approach as a “war on women and girls” and warned of increasingly violent crackdowns on those who defy compulsory veiling laws.
Broader context
The issue resurfaces amid a broader cultural fault line in Iran, where the 1979 revolution first mandated the hijab and earlier decades allowed more secular dress. While some women continue to wear headscarves, many young Iranians, especially in urban centers, are opting for crop tops, shorts, and other Western‑style clothing, signaling a shift in public attitudes that officials find difficult to reverse.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
