Almost two years have passed since the first draft was introduced by the legal committee of the Iranian parliament. It is now set to come into effect shortly. The final text of the law was only published over the weekend, sparking widespread outrage. Its official title is the “Law to Protect the Family by Promoting the Culture of Chastity and Hijab.” Critics fear that it will encourage denunciations and vigilantism. The police are expected to train private individuals to identify and report women not wearing headscarves. The only qualification required for these informants is that they must be married. Taxi drivers, through a newly established system, will be tasked with reporting female passengers who violate the mandatory dress code. Additionally, the Basij militia, a volunteer youth organization of the Revolutionary Guard, is to play a central role in “public awareness and law enforcement.”
Violations can lead to fines ranging from €260 to €2,200. Failure to pay fines on time may result in the denial of services, such as passport issuance. Business owners who serve, employ, or feature unveiled women in advertisements can also face penalties. Beyond fines, they risk travel bans. Companies are further obligated to provide surveillance footage for law enforcement purposes. Foreign women violating the dress code could have their passports confiscated.
Educational institutions and media outlets are to be mandated to promote a culture of chastity and veiling. All national institutions must also demonstrate in annual reports that they have conducted employee training on Islamic lifestyle principles and the significance of the hijab. Collaborating with foreign governments, organizations, or media regarding the veil mandate can lead to imprisonment, though the specifics of this provision remain unclear.
The law has faced criticism even from within the ruling apparatus. Ali Larijani, an advisor to the Supreme Leader, stated: “When drafting a law, one must have the power to persuade people in society.” Since this is not the case, it will “remain just a law on paper.” Larijani, who has recently regained influence, advocated for a “social solution,” emphasizing the need to convince society of the benefits of veiling through arguments and media.
Since the Women, Life, Freedom protests in 2022, more young women have defied the mandatory dress code. Many are already willing to accept fines or temporary suspension of their driver’s licenses. It is likely that stricter measures will not deter these women, given their sheer numbers, which make comprehensive enforcement difficult. The enforcement of the dress code has frequently led to violent clashes between morality enforcers, the women involved, and bystanders.
According to parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the new law aims to avoid such confrontations in the future. Instead of being detained by the morality police, violators will be identified through cameras and monitors and warned via SMS. Repeated violations will result in escalating fines.
President Massoud Pezeshkian finds himself in a difficult position due to the law. During his campaign, he explicitly opposed harsher penalties for violations of the headscarf mandate. However, the constitution requires him to sign the law into effect by the end of December. A presidential spokesperson hinted that the government may show little enthusiasm for enforcing the law, stating, “There are ways to reform bad laws,” said Mehdi Tabatabai. “Good governance will prevent the implementation of laws that harm the country’s interests and create tension and division in society.”
