Iran Open Data Database: 86% of Women Went Out Without Mandatory Hijab in 2023

The 'Iran Open Data' database conducted a survey regarding the presence of women without hijab in public places in Iran in 2023, announcing that 86% of women have left their homes without mandatory hijab since the beginning of the current year. This research base added, based on the results published on Wednesday, July 19, that about 83% of respondents emphasized that they will continue their presence without hijab in the future. According to this new research, most survey participants reside in Tehran, and more than half of them are married women. Following the nationwide protests over the death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini while in custody of the morality police last year, many women removed their headscarves as a sign of protest and in a civil movement. The presence of women without mandatory hijab in public places has become a common trend despite the efforts of the Islamic Republic government. The results from the 'Iran Open Data' survey indicate that 84% of women opposing mandatory hijab carry a scarf with them 'always' or 'sometimes' for precaution. Based on the age classification conducted by this research base, women under 20 go out without a scarf or shawl more than other age groups. Among them, individuals with higher education have chosen the 'sometimes' option for carrying a scarf more than women with lower education than a bachelor's degree. According to this research, over 60% of women opposing mandatory hijab still express concern about the possibility of harassment. This concern is greater among those with bachelor's degrees and higher. Another part of this survey addressed the community's reaction to the presence of women without hijab. More than half of the respondents said they had not witnessed any specific reaction, and 36% reported being encouraged by others. Women with bachelor's degrees and higher have faced more approval and encouragement from the community. According to the results of this survey, the marital status of women without hijab has influenced the community's reaction to them, so that married women are more often warned and opposed than others. One of the Islamic Republic government's actions to counter opponents of mandatory hijab is sending threatening text messages to them. The research from the 'Iran Open Data' database shows that 65% of women in favor of optional covering have never received warning text messages. Women under 20 stated that they have not received any warning text messages since the beginning of 2023. Despite all the concerns of opponents of mandatory hijab regarding potential harassment and opposition from the government and society, 83% of respondents to the 'Iran Open Data' questionnaire emphasized that they will continue to go out without hijab in the future. According to this survey, individuals with bachelor's degrees and lower have emphasized their continued presence without hijab in the future more than others. In terms of the prevalence of this civil movement, 81% of respondents to this survey said that since the beginning of 2023, at least one family member has gone out without mandatory hijab. The 'Iran Open Data' database also reported an increase in the number of women without hijab in public spaces from 82% at that time to 86% in 2023, comparing the current survey results with a similar survey conducted last November. According to this report, the number of women without hijab who expressed concern about potential problems in society decreased from 70% last November to 63% this year. At the same time, the approval and encouragement of women without hijab decreased from 51% last November to 36% in 2023. The Iranian government, which has failed in enforcing mandatory hijab in recent months, has recently returned morality police vehicles to the streets. The arrest of a woman who said that hijab does not allow her to do so because we have sacrificed martyrs for its removal, the closure of the cafe where Nika Shakeri worked, insistence of Islamic Republic officials on the activity of 'morality police' amid global condemnations, citizens' resistance against mandatory hijab; Qalibaf: returning to 'desired conditions' is difficult, continued crackdown on opponents of mandatory hijab; Afsaneh Baygan was sentenced to 'treatment for mental illness', the trial of Sepideh Qolian for 'non-compliance with the law' was canceled.