Alamolhoda to Behzadi: You Cannot Say I Cannot Implement the Hijab Law

The Friday prayer leader of Mashhad, Ahmad Alamolhoda, criticized Masoud Behzadi, stating that the President's duty is to implement the law and cannot say, "I cannot implement the Hijab law." On Friday, December 7, he said during Friday prayers in Mashhad that the law known as "Chastity and Hijab" was approved after review in the parliament and amendment by the Guardian Council. He added, "You are the President of this people; can you say the law is ambiguous to me, how can I implement it?" He then referred to statements by Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, who declared that "not wearing hijab is a political crime," and described the non-observance of mandatory hijab as a religious crime as well, claiming that "when it is a crime, the government cannot be indifferent to this crime." The representative of the Wali Faqih in Khorasan Razavi province also referenced Behzadi's previous remarks about the morality patrol and police forces, stating, "You said you do not accept the morality patrol; you know it yourself, you said you do not accept the police's light patrol; that is up to you, but you cannot say I cannot implement the law." Behzadi stated on Sunday evening, December 3, in a televised interview that he criticized the law known as "Chastity and Hijab," claiming its implementation is impossible, that society will not accept it, and that it will create dissatisfaction. The Iranian President remarked that this law has had widespread reactions and emphasized that society will not accept it and will create dissatisfaction, stating, "From an executive standpoint, there are many questions for me who must implement it." On Friday, other Friday prayer leaders also referred to the controversial topic of "Hijab and Chastity," including Ahmad Motahari, who described mandatory hijab as "a valuable symbol of Islam" and claimed that "the enemies of the system" want to diminish this religious identity through various mechanisms. Abolhassan Fatehmi, the Friday prayer leader of Shahrud, also claimed that "80% of this law is critical and educational" and urged the President to ensure the implementation of this law for the benefit of society. The approval and implementation of the law known as Hijab and Chastity, especially in recent weeks, has faced widespread reactions from known cultural and artistic figures, civil activists, and social media users. Over a hundred Iranian filmmakers released a brief statement, calling this law "anti-Iranian" and "humiliating," considering it a "declaration of war against the people of Iran" and a cause of "division among the people." Forty organizations and child rights activists also released a statement indicating that this law includes new criminalizations for children aged 9 to 18 and that "the interests of children are in clear conflict with criminalization against them." Meanwhile, over 140 Iranian journalists issued a statement declaring this law "inhuman" and a case of "widespread violation of citizens' fundamental rights," announcing their "decisive" opposition to its implementation. The Iranian President emphasized in his televised interview that discussions about this law are to take place but did not mention how he intends to prevent its issuance. According to the laws of the Islamic Republic, if the President does not issue the approved laws for implementation, the Speaker of the Parliament can issue them after five days. The severe governmental crackdown and the danger of protests becoming 'underground' are evident.