Iranian Cleric Eying Initiatives To Promote Mandatory Hijab

Kazem Sedighi, the Friday prayer Imam in Tehran, has proposed educational courses aimed at individuals not following mandatory hijab regulations.

Sedighi stressed on Tuesday, "We are actively engaged in social reform," claiming that “those not following hijab rules are not defiant but rather lack awareness, underscoring the need for educational interventions.”

It comes after last year's Woman, Life, Freedom uprising protests, sparked by the death in morality police custody of Mahsa Amini, arrested for not wearing the hijab properly.

In September, the Iranian parliament greenlit 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. The code mandates a headscarf covering all hair and shoulders, a loose long tunic with extended sleeves, and trousers covering the legs below the ankles.

Surprisingly, 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. The preceding elections recorded the lowest voter turnout in the four-decade history of the Islamic Republic and in the midst of a dire economic depression and national discontent, low turnout is expected once again.