Deputy for Women's and Family Affairs in Pezeshkian's Government Selected with Two Conditions: Marriage and Wearing Hijab

The Ham-Mihan newspaper published in Tehran reported today, Sunday, August 21, that the selection of Zahra Behrouzazar as the Deputy for Women's Affairs in Pezeshkian's government was accompanied by two conditions: being married and wearing a chador. The newspaper stated that Behrouzazar, alongside Parvin Dadandish, was one of the two final candidates for this position, and the two main conditions for the selection of the Deputy for Women's Affairs and participation in cabinet meetings were having a chador and being married. Mandatory hijab for government employees is one of the requirements set by the Islamic Republic, with the Minister of Interior in Ebrahim Raisi's government emphasizing that 'no one has the right to promote immodesty and lack of hijab,' stating that all government offices are obliged to adhere to the issue of 'chastity and hijab,' and if someone does not comply, 'the governor is obliged to give a warning, and if they do not listen, they must be replaced.' The Islamic Republic has named July 21 as 'Chastity and Hijab Day,' using the pretext of 'the attack of government agents on the gathering of opponents of Reza Shah's policies at the Goharshad Mosque in Mashhad' as justification for this designation. Since the protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in custody of the 'Guidance Patrol' in September 2022, a significant number of Iranian girls and women have been using optional clothing in resistance to mandatory hijab policies. In this context, despite the Islamic Republic employing all governmental resources to impose mandatory hijab on citizens, it continues to face civil disobedience from women demanding optional clothing, and the government's efforts have so far remained ineffective. Ansiyeh Khazali confirmed the 'authorization' of hijab monitors, claiming, 'We were not invited to the Ministry of Interior's hijab meetings.' Five political prisoners in Qezel Hesar called for the immediate release of Nahid Shirpichesh and Rezvaneh Ahmadkhani.