Iranian police seize journalist's motorcycle, citing 'female rider' offense

A traffic police officer in Iran stopped and seized the motorcycle of journalist and filmmaker Mina Akbari, citing "female rider" as the offense, while there is no respite in enforcing hijab.

Akbari recounted the incident, writing on X Wednesday, noting that despite presenting all required documents, including her helmet, gloves, and international driver’s license, the officer dismissed them, stating, "None of that matters, you're a woman!"

In a sarcastic remark, Akbari suggested that the officer may have confused himself with the morality police, which typically enforces strict hijab laws in Iran, often through aggressive and violent measures.

Akbari also shared an image of the official document issued by the officer, which listed "Type of offense: female rider."

In Iran, a de facto ban on women riding motorbikes has been created by authorities to stop women from riding motorcycles. Legal and bureaucratic barriers, such as a note under Article 20 of the traffic laws specifying that motorcycle licenses are issued only for "men," effectively prevent women from obtaining licenses.

In Akbari’s case however, she noted that she did present the officer with an international motorbike license.

Iranian women have faced significant challenges in their efforts to ride motorbikes and even bicycles since the 1979 revolution and the inception of the Islamic Republic. While women are allowed to participate in motorcycle racing as a sport, they are not legally permitted to ride motorcycles on public streets. This restriction is part of broader societal and legal limitations imposed on women, reflecting the ongoing struggle for gender equality in Iran.

Although Iran's former Vice President for Women’s Affairs, Ensieh Khazali, announced in January this year that efforts were underway to address the issue of motorcycle licenses for women, Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi stated in May that the matter is not currently on the government's agenda.

In the same month, Isfahan province's Police Commander, Hamid Alineghianpour, reinforced this stance by stating, "Any vehicle that is driven must have a legal permit, and since women do not have motorcycle licenses, riding motorcycles is against the law, and the police will take action against it."

Akbari’s case is not an isolated incident. There have been several similar cases in Iran where women faced repercussions for riding motorcycles.

In January 2017, two young women were arrested in Dezful, southwestern Iran, after being filmed riding a motorcycle. Ali Elhami, a local police commander, said the women “committed an action against revolutionary norms and values by riding a motorcycle.”

Despite the restrictions, however, much like the case with mandatory hijab laws, Iranian women continue to defy the ban on riding motorbikes and bicycles. Their acts of resistance, whether by riding in public or sharing images and videos on social media, highlight their ongoing struggle for freedom and equality in the face of stringent barriers placed against them by the Islamic Republic.