A Former Security Official: 'The Hijab Law' Will Bring Conflict to Schools

A former minister of the Islamic Republic and former deputy of the Ministry of Intelligence has predicted that the 'Hijab and Chastity Law' currently under review in the Islamic Consultative Assembly will bring 'conflict and strife' to schools as well. Ali Rabiei, the former Minister of Labor, Cooperatives, and Social Welfare, referred to the widespread protests of 2022 in various cities of Iran as 'unrest' and stated that 'policies completely reliant on economic tranquility and alleviating the suffering of the people were expected to be adopted.' This former official, who has a background in senior security positions, criticized the current actions of the Iranian government, writing that in the cultural and social domain, there is a 'strange and unbelievable' insistence on returning to 'provocative policies,' and any observer, even with a superficial glance, can see 'conflict-expanding decisions.' Following the widespread anti-government protests last year, which peaked after the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody and manifested more openly against certain laws such as mandatory hijab, the institutions of the Islamic Republic intensified their crackdowns and imposed political-social restrictions. Ali Rabiei further noted that there is 'no program or policy' from the Islamic Republic government to 'address widespread poverty.' One of the most significant actions of the Iranian government after the emergence of the 'Mahsa Movement' to contain the increasing civil protests and opposition to mandatory women's dress code was the drafting of the 'Hijab and Chastity Bill,' its submission to the Islamic Consultative Assembly, and its path towards 'Article 85 approval.' In this context, Ali Rabiei wrote that the Hijab and Chastity Bill, which went to the Assembly and ultimately expanded away from public scrutiny in the form of 'Article 85,' will 'transfer conflict and strife to schools as well.' Iranian schools were among the active centers of protests last year and were significant points of dissent against the enforcement of mandatory hijab and religious dress for Iranian women. In this regard, students faced harsh confrontations during protests, and shortly thereafter, the issue of 'serial poisonings' in schools emerged. The controversial provisions of the Hijab and Chastity Bill are under consideration by the Islamic Consultative Assembly; Pegah Bani Hashemi explains. The controversial materials of the Hijab and Chastity Bill are reported by Afshar Sigarchi. Zahra Rahnavard issued a statement; a 'painful' downfall awaits 'the gentlemen.' One parliament member stated: the 'mandatory hijab' bill has also entered the realm of students. Intensification of 'closure therapy' of businesses and services; from inns to cafes on the closure list. Heavy sentences were issued for opponents of mandatory hijab in Arak on the charge of 'insulting the martyr's wife.'