Ghalibaf Says Parliament Has Resolved 'Ambiguities'; 'Hijab and Chastity' Bill to Be Referred to Guardian Council

The Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly announced that the ambiguities in the 'Hijab and Chastity' bill have been resolved in the relevant commission and stated that this bill will be referred back to the Guardian Council for further review 'soon.' Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, speaking today at a meeting of the 'Society of Teachers of Qom Seminary,' described criticisms regarding the inclusion of cultural and proactive sections in this bill as 'destructive' and claimed that the criticisms, suggestions, and demands from a large number of elites and experts from various groups and classes have been heard in the amendment and approval of this bill. The Guardian Council announced on Tuesday, October 24, that the 'Hijab and Chastity' bill, which had previously been approved by the Judicial and Legal Commission of the Parliament as an 'Article 85' bill without being presented in a public session, was returned to the Islamic Consultative Assembly to resolve 'ambiguities.' Hadi Tahan Nazif, spokesman for the Guardian Council, stated that 'although this bill was sent to the Parliament in the form of a draft, several articles were added in Parliament, some of which led to increased costs.' Prior to the Guardian Council's review, the Expediency Discernment Council of the Islamic Republic also identified two articles of the 'Hijab and Chastity' bill as incompatible with 'the general policies of the system' during its meeting on Saturday, October 21. The 'Hijab and Chastity' bill was prepared by the Judiciary in 9 articles and sent to the government, and then to the Parliament with 15 articles. After review in the Judicial and Legal Commission, it was approved by the Parliament through Article 85 of the Constitution with 72 articles. According to Article 85 of the Constitution, this bill, which criminalizes various aspects of mandatory hijab, was sent to the Guardian Council for approval and implementation without being presented in a public session and with the approval of the Judicial and Legal Commission. The 'Hijab and Chastity' bill has faced widespread criticism both inside and outside Iran. Several UN special rapporteurs, including Javaid Rehman, condemned the approval of this bill and called for its immediate repeal. Eight UN experts, including Javaid Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, stated regarding this bill that 'the draft of this law can be described as a form of gender apartheid because it seems that the authorities intend to govern through systematic discrimination aimed at the complete submission of women and girls.' The rise of violence or the promotion of virtue?; three citizens of Tehran were arrested. The Chief Justice of Tehran announced actions against those who 'mock' hijab. Ejei emphasized the crackdown on opponents of mandatory hijab just one day after the burial of Armita Garavand. Fines for improper clothing for men range from 6 million to 50 million tomans. The Guardian Council deemed the 'Hijab and Chastity' bill 'ambiguous' and contrary to some principles of the Constitution. A survey by 'Shargh Network' showed that 84% of people oppose the obligation for women to observe hijab.