Guardian Council Spokesman Once Again Declares 'Chastity and Hijab' Bill to Be 'Ambiguous'

The spokesman for the Guardian Council stated today, Saturday, August 13, during a press conference in response to the review of the latest version of the 'Chastity and Hijab' bill that this bill has 'two ambiguities that representatives must decide on.' Hadi Tahan Nazif also emphasized that 'the authority in this regard lies with the Parliament.' Given these statements, the Guardian Council's objections to the controversial 'Chastity and Hijab' bill and its return to the Parliament for the fourth time is occurring, and it is unclear which issues have not been amended by the representatives according to the wishes of the Guardian Council. Accordingly, on May 10 of this year, the head of the Parliament's Judicial Commission stated that the Commission had addressed the Guardian Council's objections to the bill and sent it back to the Council, and 'we are waiting for the Guardian Council's opinion.' Meanwhile, according to the law, the Guardian Council was supposed to announce its opinion on this bill within ten days, and if more time was needed, there was the possibility of a ten-day 'extension.' Therefore, it is unclear whether a request for 'extension' has been registered by this Council from May until today, when the spokesman for the Guardian Council spoke of remaining objections. In December of last year, the spokesman for the Guardian Council announced the rejection of the revised 'Chastity and Hijab' bill again in this Council and stated that this bill was referred back to the Islamic Consultative Assembly for necessary amendments. Hadi Tahan Nazif emphasized that the 'Chastity and Hijab' bill had 'multiple objections and ambiguities' in the previous stage that the Parliament 'did not address all of them.' Previously, on December 22, 2023, the 'High Supervisory Board' in the Expediency Discernment Council announced that the revised bill from the Parliament regarding the 'Chastity and Hijab' was not considered 'contrary' to the 'general policies of the system,' and thus this bill was approved in the Expediency Discernment Council. This bill was first rejected in November 2023 by the Guardian Council, which, according to the Council's spokesman on Tuesday, November 2, was returned to the Islamic Consultative Assembly after being reviewed in ten expert sessions for the resolution of ambiguities and objections. The 'Chastity and Hijab' bill, which was prepared in nine articles by the Judiciary and sent to the government and then to the Parliament with 15 articles, was approved by the Parliament through Article 85 of the Constitution with 72 articles after being reviewed in the 'Judicial and Legal Commission.' According to Article 85 of the Constitution, the examination and approval of certain plans and bills can be delegated to the Parliament's commissions by the Parliament's decision, and after being approved in the commission, it is sent to the Guardian Council for final approval without the need for discussion and voting in the public session. The controversial 'Chastity and Hijab' bill was also approved in this manner and, if finally approved by the Guardian Council, will be implemented for three years on an 'experimental' basis. This 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 an immediate halt to its approval. The future of the so-called 'Hijab' bill after the appointment of the new government head, from the perspective of Fatemeh Haqiqatjou, hints at Ghalibaf's promise to PourMohammadi about retracting the Hijab and Chastity bill. Roghieh Rezaei stated: 'The Hijab bill aims to take away the breathing space from Iranian women.' The Parliament is afraid to accept responsibility for this bill. The government's insistence on enforcing 'mandatory hijab'; a police official stated: 'The change of government will not disrupt the implementation of the 'Noor Plan.' A senior UN official criticized the continuation of violent crackdowns in Iran. The watchdog reported: 'Guidance patrol' officers harass opponents of mandatory hijab and their families. The 'Chastity and Hijab' bill is on the verge of implementation; defenders of the Islamic Republic admit: 'There is no support for hijab among government managers.' A newspaper report indicated dissatisfaction among merchants due to a 60% drop in sales due to the presence of guidance patrols. Khamenei's representative in Kayhan newspaper called for the replacement of the 'Chastity and Hijab' bill with the 'Noor Plan.'