Iran. They want to tighten dress codes. The president is against it

Iranian parliamentarians want even stricter dress code. On Sunday, they adopted regulations to tighten penalties for inappropriate clothing, including: for not wearing the hijab. The bill has already been approved by the Guardian Council Iran examining compliance with the constitution and Islamic law. To enter into force, it must be signed by the president. However, Masud Pezeszkian does not support it. “We should not do anything that would disturb social harmony and consensus. We must talk and cooperate on this matter,” he wrote on Monday on X (formerly Twitter – ed.). Giving an interview to state television, President Pezeszkian added that in his opinion “there are too many questions” regarding the implementation of the law. – We cannot take actions that will cause dissatisfaction – he said, adding that he is conducting consultations with other authorities on the new regulations.

The new regulations would include stricter penalties for dressing inappropriately within the meaning of the law or not wearing a hijab. According to the regulations, women are not allowed to wear clothes that are tight or reveal the body above the ankles or below the neck. In the case of men, the law is less restrictive, but also prohibits showing a significant part of the body.

What raises particular concerns are the high fines provided for in the regulations. Failure to comply with the regulations could also result in imprisonment. Under the bill, punishment would apply not only to people who dress inappropriately, but also to those who notice inappropriate behavior on the part of others and do not report this fact to the authorities.

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The pressure on the president from people who insist that he oppose pressure from extremely radical factions is enormous, says Iran International. The portal reminds that during the campaign, Pezeszkian promised to stop patrols supervising the appropriateness of clothing. Currently, his supporters are demanding that this promise be fulfilled, he adds.

CNN, in turn, notes that the president's options are limited. He has no real veto power and is obliged to approve all parliamentary decisions, the station indicates. He emphasizes, however, that Pezeszkian may try to gain support among citizens by delaying the signature. If he fails, the act will enter into force on December 13.

This will happen just over two years after a wave of protests against restrictive dress codes began to sweep through the country. The demonstrations were sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old detained by Iran's morality police for allegedly violating regulations requiring covering her hair with a hijab. According to witnesses, the Kurdish woman was brutally beaten by the services. Iranian authorities denied that officers treated her badly. According to the official version, the woman's death was caused by sudden heart failure.

The obligation to wear the hijab and loose, body-covering clothing was introduced in Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The regulations came into force in 1983.

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