After much debate regarding the closure of Saturdays and opposition from the Supreme Supervisory Board in the Expediency Discernment Council, the Guardian Council has now opposed the Saturday closure, deeming it 'incompatible with Sharia.' Tahaan Nazif, spokesperson for the Guardian Council, announced the council's opinions regarding the Saturday closure during a press conference on Saturday, August 4. Part of the Guardian Council's statement reads: 'The restriction of working days to Sunday through Thursday, which necessitates the closure on Saturday, is recognized as contrary to Sharia principles.' The spokesperson did not provide further explanation on why the Saturday closure contradicts 'Islamic Sharia,' but previously, some religious authorities, including Naser Makarem Shirazi, stated that since 'the closure on Saturday is a rule and custom of the Jewish religion,' implementing this would be 'similar to the Jews and weaken Islamic culture.' This proposal had previously been approved by the Islamic Consultative Assembly on May 15 of this year. About two weeks later, the Supreme Supervisory Board in the Expediency Discernment Council did not agree with the Saturday closure, considering it 'incompatible with the general policies of the legislative system.' This board also announced that it would await the Guardian Council's opinion on this matter. The approval of the Saturday closure in the parliament led to many protests from religious forces and some clerics, arguing that Iran, as an Islamic country, should maintain its distance from the holidays of Jews and Christians. However, the closure of Saturday, as it is considered a holiday for Jews, faced special opposition from several clerics. Some clerics and religious authorities, including Jafar Subhani, also urged the Guardian Council to resolve this issue. Proponents of the Saturday closure argue that due to the closures on Thursday and Friday in Iran and Saturday and Sunday in most countries, Iran 'effectively has only three days of connection with the world.' According to Article 17 of the Constitution, the official weekly holiday in Iran is one day, which is Friday.
Guardian Council Considers Saturday Closure 'Against Sharia'
The Guardian Council has declared the proposed closure of Saturdays as incompatible with Islamic law, following significant debate and opposition from religious authorities. This decision reflects ongoing tensions between modern legislative proposals and traditional Islamic values in Iran, impacting the country's alignment with global practices.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Guardian Council has rejected a proposal to close businesses on Saturdays, citing that it contradicts Islamic law. This decision follows significant debate and opposition from various religious authorities.
- The proposal for Saturday closure was initially approved by the parliament.
- Opposition arose from clerics who argued that it aligns with Jewish customs, which they believe undermines Islamic culture.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran's legislative process is heavily influenced by Islamic law, and proposals that conflict with religious principles often face significant opposition. The debate over working days reflects broader societal tensions regarding modernization.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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