Iran’s National Security Council has suspended implementation of the controversial “hijab and chastity law” that was due to come into force on Friday.
President Massoud Pezeshkian called the legislation “ambiguous and in need of reform,” signaling his intention to reevaluate the measures.
The proposed new law, which would impose harsher penalties on women and girls who expose their hair, forearms or lower legs, had been heavily criticized by human rights activists.
Strict dress codes for women and girls, which the Islamic Republic of Iran’s rulers have treated as a national security priority for decades, have sparked protests in the past.
Under the new law, repeat offenders and anyone who flouts the rules could face higher fines and longer prison sentences of up to 15 years. It would also require companies to report anyone who breaks the rules.
Human rights groups had expressed concern. Amnesty International said Iranian authorities were trying to “consolidate an already oppressive system of oppression.”
During the presidential election in July, then-candidate Pezeshkian openly criticized the treatment of Iranian women on the hijab issue.
He promised not to interfere in their private lives, a stance that resonated with many Iranians, particularly a younger generation frustrated by the government’s tight control.
Masoumeh Ebtekar, a former vice president for women and family affairs, also criticized the law, saying: “The new law is an indictment against half of Iran’s population.”
The hijab debate gained even more momentum last week when Parastoo Ahmadi, a popular Iranian singer, was subsequently arrested Streaming a virtual concert without an audience present on YouTube without wearing the hijab.
The concert quickly went viral and the arrest of Ahmadi and her bandmates sparked major backlash. Facing public outcry, authorities released her the following day.
Tensions surrounding the hijab have continued 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 the dress code high.
Over the past two years, many young Iranian women have defiantly removed their hijabs in public, challenging the government’s authority.
Last week, more than 300 Iranian human rights activists, writers and journalists publicly condemned the new hijab law, calling it “illegitimate and unenforceable” and calling on Pezeshkian to keep his campaign promises.
Despite pressure from hardline factions close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, many younger people in Iran appear to be unafraid of the regime’s restrictions.
Pezeshkian’s supporters believe the new hijab law will not stop young women from resisting it and could actually make the situation worse.
But supporters of the law have pressured the president to move forward, criticizing the National Security Council’s hesitation and demanding that he sign the law to clear the way for its enforcement.
The decision to suspend implementation suggests the government fears it could trigger another wave of mass protests like two years ago.
