Is Iran quietly sweeping controversial hijab law under the rug?
British Iranian journalist and political analyst
Iran's President and Parliament Speaker appear to have put the brakes on the enforcement of the ultra-hardliners’ controversial Hijab Act by refraining from officially communicating it to the government for implementation.
The enforcement of the legislation, which imposes harsh penalties—including heavy fines and prison sentences—on women for not adhering to strict hijab regulations and on businesses for failing to enforce them, could be highly provocative under the current circumstances and risk igniting anti-government protests.
The legislation must have been sent to the President within five days of its approval by the ultra-hardline Guardian Council in late September to sign and communicate to all government bodies.
The finalization of the legislation, which seemed deliberately delayed during Ebrahim Raisi's presidency to avoid a popular backlash and shield his government from vulnerability, was completed shortly after the new administration took office. This move has largely been interpreted as a direct challenge to Pezeshkian and his administration, who promised to adopt a softer stance toward hijab violations.
Normally, as seen under previous presidents, the Parliament Speaker would send the new law to government agencies within three days if the president chose not to.
However, neither Masoud Pezeshkian, who vowed to prevent violence and pressure on women over hijab, nor Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, who has consistently supported hijab restrictions, has taken this step or provided any explanation.
In the past few days, ultra-hardliners have taken new steps to keep the hijab issue alive and push the government to enforce the legislation including an announcement about a “clinic” in Tehran to rehabilitate women who flout the mandatory hijab.
The state hijab enforcement enity, Amr-e be Marouf Headquarters, is headed by Kazem Sediqqi, one of Tehran’s several interim Friday imams. The imams are considered appointees of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The establishment of the ‘hijab rehabilitation clinic’ is meant to prevent Pezeshkian’s government from easing hijab enforcement, veteran politician Mohammad Tavassoli, the former leader of the reformist Iran Freedom Movement (Nehzat-e Azadi) contended in a tweet.
Government officials have denied having any part or knowledge of the facility's establishment.
The official, Mehri Talebi-Darestani, defined the mission of the “clinic” as offering “scientific and psychological treatment” to women to bring them to voluntarily abide by the Islamic dress code.
While she described visits to the “clinic” as “optional,” a senior official from the same state body revealed in an interview with a news website that participation in these rehabilitation programs would be offered as an alternative to the cash fines imposed on women by the courts.
Social media users, the "reformist" media, and mental health professionals have widely criticized the move.
In a joint statement Wednesday, the Iranian Psychological Association and Psychotherapy Associations condemned ultra-hardliners’ new move.
The use of the words “clinic” and “rehabilitation” suggests that not abiding by the prescribed Islamic dress code is a mental disorder or illness, the statement said, adding that they considered it a “clear example of misapplication of psychology and psychiatry.”
“You can mock this hijab rehabilitation clinic now but you will find out what they have in store for the nation when they drag people there, make up a record of mental illness for them, as well as a lot of financial costs,” a critic tweeted while warning Pezeshkian to be wary of the consequences of hardliners new plan.
