The bill titled “Protecting the Family by Promoting the Culture of Hijab and Chastity” was submitted to the government by the judiciary in April 2023 and subsequently forwarded to the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Iranian Parliament). Its general provisions were approved within a month and sent to the Guardian Council for final ratification. Despite widespread criticism, including from conservative and hardline figures, regarding the imposition of heavy fines and severe social restrictions, the bill underwent multiple rounds of deliberation between the parliament, the Guardian Council, and the Expediency Council. It was ultimately approved by the Guardian Council in September 2024 and sent to the government for a three-year trial period.
Pezeshkian’s government, however, hesitated to promulgate the law. While the vice president for legal affairs announced its suspension, the speaker of the parliament declared that the law would be officially promulgated for implementation on December 13. Under the laws of the Islamic Republic, if the president fails to promulgate a law passed by parliament, the parliament speaker is authorized to do so. Before its promulgation, Ghalibaf, the speaker of the parliament, stated that the process had been delayed because of security concerns and the anniversary of the death in custody of Mahsa Jina Amini, which sparked nationwide protests and the Woman, Life, Freedom.
While it was largely expected that the Speaker of Parliament would promulgate the law, on December 14th, news sites reported that the President had referred the issue to the National Security Council, which ruled against the promulgation of the law. Pezeshkian had said earlier that given the serious problems with the law it would not be possible to implement it and would need revisions. It should be expected that this issue will continue to be one of serious debate among different political factions within the Islamic Republic. Women’s groups continue to watch developments.
The following outlines some of the key provisions of the law:
A Different Approach to Control
- Under this law, street patrols by the Morality Police will be discontinued. Still, surveillance will persist in an invasive and extensive manner and will be implemented by all executive and administrative agencies. Instead of direct street confrontations, the law imposes heavy fines, social restrictions, and imprisonment as well as penalties for those who defy the mandatory hijab. The law also obligates business owners, and even online platforms to monitor and report women’s adherence to hijab regulations, who will face heavy fines if they fail to comply.
- For the first time, the law explicitly defines improper clothing for men, with penalties equivalent to those imposed on women for improper clothing.
- This law also forbids men from entering the women’s sections of buses and subways, with violators subject to penalties. From the start of the Revolution, officials of the Islamic Republic have worked hard to create segregated spaces for men and women. This stipulation is further effort to segregate spaces, where such policies have been unsuccessful.
- This law also requires that the State Broadcasting Agency (IRIB) develop television and radio programming countering efforts that work “against the foundation of the family or the concept of hijab and chastity and which promote individualism, nudity, promiscuity and homosexuality or other elements corrupting the foundation of the family.” Section 3 of this law which outlines the specific responsibilities of the government agencies calls for the IRIB to raise awareness in this respect, and promote models of “Islamic lifestyles which are family centered.” LGBTQI rights activists are especially alarmed by this section of the law, as they feel it may further promote hostile state policies against them and increase social and political insecurity and violence targeting these individuals.
Collective Monitoring and Surveillance
- The Headquarters for Enjoining the Good and Forbidding the Evil will be responsible for supporting citizen groups engaged in enforcing hijab laws, issuing them activity licenses, providing training and certification, and monitoring their activities.
- All government agencies, as well as juridical and natural persons providing services to the public – such as non-governmental banks, passenger transportation companies, stores, business owners, and officials of town or complex areas – must provide their camera footage to the Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Faraja) for identifying violators of this law. Non-compliance will result in dismissal from government service for six months to five years, while owners of private businesses will face fines.
- Internet taxi apps (such as Snapp! and Tapsi) are required to implement a system within two months that enables drivers to report passengers not wearing a hijab or who are improperly covered. Drivers who report such passengers will be exempt from fines associated with these violations.
Controlling Bodies and Dress; Punishing Defiance
- Any woman who removes her headscarf in public – whether in physical spaces or cyberspace – and is not wearing a chador (full body and head covering), Maghnaeh (similar to a nun’s habit), headscarf, shawl, or similar covering will be identified through the Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s smart surveillance systems. For a first offense, she will receive a fine of 5 million tomans, be suspended for three years, and be notified via text message. A second violation incurs a fine of 15 million tomans, also notified via text message. With further offenses, the fines increase progressively to 80 million and 165 million tomans.
- According to this law, anyone who exposes themselves and appears nude public or in online spaces or appears in clothing conventionally considered to be nude, will be immediately arrested and sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison or will face a substantial fine (currently set at 330-500 million Tomans or approximately $5000-$7600).
- Foreigners who fail to observe hijab rules will have their passports or residence permits confiscated and will be deported from the country.
- The press, news agencies, and media outlets are prohibited from inviting individuals convicted under this law to programs or meetings or broadcasting/publishing their interviews, speeches, or advertisements until a final verdict is issued in their cases and implemented.
- The deadline for paying cash penalties for offenses under this law is ten days from issuing and receiving the final judicial verdict. Failure to pay will result in the deprivation of the following government services: passport issuance or replacement, services for numbering or replacing vehicle license plates, permission to leave the country, release of legally impounded vehicles, and issuance or replacement of driver’s licenses.
Employment, Workplace, and Business Regulations and Fines
- Adherence to chastity and hijab is mandated as a prerequisite for recruitment, employment, promotion, advancement, ranking, appointments, and employment privileges in government agencies, as well as in educational and research institutions, whether governmental or non-governmental, including the Islamic Azad University. Security guards are required to report any hijab violations, whether inside or outside the workplace, to the police for enforcement.
- Compliance with chastity and hijab in the workplace and public spaces is also a condition for issuing and renewing operating licenses for private institutions.
- Lawyers who fail to observe the hijab are prohibited from entering courts and prosecutors’ offices.
- Tourist routes and destinations are considered places of business for operators, tour group organizers, and owners of tourist camps, whether official or unofficial. Compliance with hijab regulations is mandatory on these routes. Violations by passengers will result in fines for the tour operator.
- Drivers of public transportation vehicles, including internet taxis and motorcycles, will be fined if their passengers are found to commit acts of indecency or wear improper clothing.
- Designing or advertising clothing, mannequins, toys, statues, dolls, signs, symbols, or images that promote nudity or non-compliance with hijab regulations is deemed a criminal offense.
Cyberspace, Social Media and Online Business/Commerce
- Celebrities or social influencers found guilty under this law will face fines, bans on professional or occupational activities for six months to five years, travel bans, restrictions on cyberspace activities, and the removal of all tax exemptions.
- Domestic virtual platform owners will be fined between one to five percent of their annual revenue if they fail to prevent or remove content that promotes nudity, indecency, or improper clothing.
- Assigning work or advertising to individuals or entities in cyberspace or media – whether inside or outside the country – whose activities promote or advertise non-compliance with hijab regulations is prohibited, with violators subject to fines.
It should be noted that online businesses have grown considerably in recent years and the majority of them have been launched by women. At approximately 14%, the rate of employment for Iranian women is one of the lowest worldwide and in the region. Therefore, these businesses have served as a major source of income for Iranians who have no other source of income or limited income. As such they are critical to the livelihoods of many Iranians, especially in light of Iran’s economic crisis. These businesses operate in a less regulated environment and therefore are easier to set up. Imposition of fines and hijab related regulations could cripple many of these businesses and in turn hurt the livelihoods of those who depend on them.
Protesting, Ridiculing or Resisting the Hijab
- According to Article 37, any individual who, in collaboration with governments, networks, media, foreign or hostile groups/organizations, or hostile individuals affiliated with them, or in an organized manner, promotes or propagates nudity, indecency, unveiling, or improper attire may be charged under Article 286 of the Islamic Penal Code. This article carries the punishment of ‘corruption on earth’, which includes the death penalty. The law mandates the Ministry of Intelligence and the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to monitor activities in both cyberspace and the real world, identify such individuals, and refer them to judicial authorities.
- Anyone who protests against veiled women in public places, private and government workplaces, or on public transportation vehicles will be arrested and sentenced to two to six months in prison and 74 lashes.
- Ridiculing the hijab in any form— including in online spaces, through comments or statements— has been criminalized. Offenders may face fines, travel bans, and bans on cyberspace activities. These penalties also apply to children and adolescents.
- Insulting authorities or resisting the enforcement of this law will result in fines and imprisonment.