61 Lawyers Protest: Treatment of Women Opposing Mandatory Hijab Contradicts Law and Public Freedoms

Dozens of lawyers condemned the "violent actions" of the so-called "Guidance Patrol" of the Islamic Republic against women opposing mandatory hijab in a statement, deeming the continuation of the government's policies in this regard as "contrary to law and public freedoms." The statement, signed by 61 lawyers, lists "the right to freedom and choice of clothing and immunity from any form of assault" as among the "deep demands" of women, describing the return of the Guidance Patrol and the beginning of a new phase of "coercive policies" against women as a "historical regression to the past." The signatories of this statement characterized the ongoing "provocative policies" as leading to "more conflict and insecurity" in society and deemed the approval and implementation of mandatory hijab policies through initiatives such as "Hijab and Chastity" and "Noor" as outside the jurisdiction of the police. They further emphasized: "We, the lawyers, consider these initiatives to be against the law and public freedoms and in conflict with the Constitution and international human rights documents." The signatories include Peyman Darvishan, Ali Sharifzadeh Ardekan, Mostafa Nili, Mohammad Reza Kargar Pishkhan, Mona Abdi, Arash Amiri, and Soheila Darvishi. Part of the statement notes that "the Constitution of the country also protects the life, property, honor, and occupation of individuals from any form of assault, and the treatment of women and their detention or the closure of cultural and service centers and shops under the pretext of promoting non-hijab without a judicial order is against all legal norms and regulations, and the government has no right to impose its beliefs and clothing model on women and society." The signatories described the delegation of "judicial matters" to the police regarding non-hijab as a "disaster" and wrote: "According to the current legal standards of the country, the police do not even have the right to verbally admonish women, as the accusation of non-hijab ultimately falls under light penalties and grade 8 fines and must be addressed directly in court." These 61 lawyers emphasized their efforts for the "liberation and freedom of women" and, while warning the rulers about the consequences of such initiatives and decisions, called for an "end to destructive policies against women." The agents of the so-called Guidance Patrol, accompanied by plainclothes forces, have resumed a new wave of repression against opponents of mandatory hijab since April 14, under the "Noor" initiative in public spaces, engaging in violent actions against women without hijab. These actions have faced widespread reactions from activists and human rights organizations. Among them, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern over the violent repression of Iranian women by the Islamic Republic under strict mandatory hijab laws. Dozens of civil activists and political prisoners also condemned the "government's war" with the people in the streets and "arrests and the mobilization of heavily armed forces against the hair and bodies of women." The government's determination to confront women in Iran; Ahmad Reza Radan: If the "enemy" passes through the "hijab" path, it will go everywhere. The High Commissioner for Human Rights criticized the "repression" of women in Iran and called for the release of Tomaj Salehi. Amnesty International reported that the situation of freedom of expression, repression of women, torture, and executions by the Islamic Republic worsened in 2023. Dozens of civil activists and political prisoners stated: The aim of the government's war with women's hair is to create an atmosphere of fear and terror among the people.