A Group of Religious Intellectuals Calls for a Review of the 'Mandatory Hijab' Policy

A number of religious intellectuals, in a statement denying the mandatory hijab, emphasized that the policies of the Islamic Republic in this regard have resulted in nothing but 'excessive financial costs, religious and spiritual discredit, political inefficacy, and social waste.' This statement, which was reflected on the 'Guyanews' website on Tuesday, February 6, has been signed by 12 figures, including Hassan Yousefi Eshkevari, Abdolali Bazargan, Soroush Dabbagh, Mahmoud Sadri, and Reza Alijani. The signatories of the statement emphasized two principles, the first being 'the precedence of ethics over jurisprudence.' They wrote that the February 1979 revolution was for 'independence, freedom, republicanism, and Islamism,' but 'the intended Islam as one of the ideals of the revolution was the Islam of justice, freedom, equality, liberation, and spirituality, not the Daesh and Taliban Islam that closes the way to the flourishing of the essence of religion with a rigid and authoritarian interpretation of Sharia.' The statement adds: 'The principle of the precedence of ethics over jurisprudence emphasizes the health of human relations among members of society as a moral necessity and a fundamental instinct in the diverse context of today's Iran and among Iranian citizens, rather than a rigid emphasis on the type of dress for women and men.' The signatories further described the use of force and coercion in the implementation of Sharia as 'an abhorrent act' and noted the diversity of cultures, ethnicities, and religions in today's Iran, stating that a single ruling cannot be issued for all these women. Public protests against the mandatory hijab peaked in December with the release of a video showing a young woman publicly protesting the mandatory hijab on Enghelab Street. This woman, known as the 'Girl of Enghelab Street,' had attached her headscarf to a stick and was waving it like a flag while standing on a power pole. Following this, on the 29th of Bahman, other images were shared on social media showing at least six individuals in Tehran and one in Isfahan repeating this act by climbing power transmission poles. The Iranian police announced that 29 citizens protesting the mandatory hijab have been arrested so far. A group of religious intellectuals in another part of their statement said: 'Certainly, regarding women who define themselves independently of religion and faith, or people of the Book who, according to the text of the Constitution, are citizens with equal rights to others, and even according to current jurisprudential standards, can adhere to their religious customs, or even Muslim women who, for any reason, do not believe in the obligatory nature of hijab, a single ruling cannot be issued, and they cannot be forced to use a specific type of dress.' This statement refers to the Islamic Republic of Iran as 'the only Muslim country legislating on the issue of Sharia hijab and the only country legally punishing violators of hijab law,' which 'has clashed with inviolable human and instinctual principles such as will and choice, the right to choose, the principle of inherent human dignity, ethical living, and multiculturalism,' and in this regard, 'is at the forefront.' The signatories of this statement ultimately suggested to the authorities of the Islamic Republic to 'fundamentally reconsider their policies regarding hijab before it is too late and the material and spiritual damages of the erroneous tradition of mandatory hijab increase even further.' Other signatories of the statement include Mohammad Javad Akbarin, Meysam Badamchi, Reza Beheshti Moaz, Hassan Farashtiyan, Jamileh Kadivar, Mehdi Momken, and Yaser Mirdamadi. The campaign against mandatory hijab in Iran has recently entered new phases, such that some conservatives and reformists have also expressed opinions rejecting mandatory hijab or questioned the validity of this policy for the first time. Among them, Mohsen Gharaian stated: 'In Saudi Arabia, which is the base of revelation and the center of the qibla of Muslims, women were not allowed to drive until recently, but now they have been given permission. Also, there were prohibitions regarding women's entry into media and stadiums, which have been lifted with recent reforms; therefore, for such matters, one must pay attention to the customs and conditions of society and see what customs the society accepts and what its demands are.' Additionally, Mohammad Moghadam, a member of the Combatant Clergy Association, stated: 'Religion never forces anyone regarding hijab and clothing.' In this context, a report published by a state institution indicates that '49 percent' of the Iranian people do not want mandatory hijab. The spokesperson for the judiciary announced the arrest of five civil activists and 29 protesters against mandatory hijab in Iran. The spokesperson also stated that the protesters against mandatory hijab had used industrial materials.