Tehran’s streets are showing a new visual of everyday life: women strolling in cafés, parks and concerts without headscarves, and many dressing in crop tops, leggings and shorts. Social‑media videos captured these scenes, suggesting that Iran’s strict dress code enforcement has noticeably softened in recent years.
Why the shift?
The relaxation follows the massive protests that erupted after the September 16, 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22‑year‑old detained by the morality police for allegedly not wearing her headscarf properly. The state’s brutal crackdown killed more than 500 people and led to thousands of arrests. To quell further unrest, authorities have stepped back from strict enforcement of the headscarf and modest‑dress rules.
Hard‑liners push back
Despite the de‑escalation, hard‑liners within Iran’s ruling establishment are demanding a renewed clamp‑down on women’s attire. Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, a politician and father‑in‑law of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, warned last week that “we can’t enter into that front as we ought to because of wartime conditions.” He and other senior figures argue that a sudden tightening could spark public backlash while the country is already strained by U.S. attacks, sanctions and a naval blockade.
Activist and former political prisoner Pouran Nazemi, who lives in Tehran, said disagreements over the headscarf have become more acute since the war began, adding, “They are afraid of protests.” A university student from an affluent northern district confirmed she does not wear a headscarf but covers most of her arms and legs, noting she feels “like I am wearing too much.”
Enforcement remains uneven
Iran’s theocracy still mandates that women wear a scarf covering the hair and loose‑fitting clothing that hides the body. Religious police have historically fined, harassed or arrested women who violate these rules. Yet over the past decade, many women have pushed the limits, moving the scarf to reveal more hair and opting for tighter clothing. Since 2022, a growing number have stopped wearing the headscarf entirely, and some have begun exposing arms, legs or even stomachs in public.
In a hard‑line newspaper overseen by the supreme leader, the removal of headscarves was described as “promoting nudity and permissiveness” and labeled a “security threat.” The judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni‑Ejei, called for “prudent and urgent action” on the issue.
Political calculations
Hard‑liners hold nightly rallies across the country, often attended by women in black conservative robes and head coverings. Even at these gatherings, a few women appear without headscarves, highlighting the growing gap between rhetoric and practice.
Some conservative commentators have blamed President Masoud Pezeshkian for preventing a stricter headscarf policy. Abdol Hossein Khosrowpanah, head of a state body overseeing universities and cultural institutions, told reporters, “As soon as we say anything, they say there’s a war, let’s not make trouble.”
Authorities have briefly shut down some Tehran cafés and public venues for headscarf violations, but the effort has not expanded. The new head of the Basij, hard‑line cleric Hossein Taeb, cautioned commanders to address the headscarf issue in a way that does not damage “internal cohesion,” echoing a recent statement by the supreme leader that prioritized the war effort above other concerns.
Women’s resilience
Despite the risk of morals‑related charges, women continue to test the limits. Singer Hiwa Seyfizade posted on Instagram that she received a four‑year prison sentence after performing a public concert last year. Lawyer and former political prisoner Sedigheh Vasmaghi, who discarded her headscarf in 2023, warned that a new crackdown could be attempted but noted past attempts have failed.
“People aren’t going to go back to how it was,” activist Nazemi said. “They aren’t capable of doing it.” The ongoing tension between hard‑liners and a populace accustomed to greater personal liberty underscores how Iran’s internal social policies remain intertwined with the broader pressures of war and economic hardship.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
