Islamic Republic Culture Minister: We Will Not Allow Those Who Remove Their Hijab to Attend Artistic Programs

Mohammad Mahdi Esmaeili, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, provided explanations on Wednesday regarding the presence of artists without hijab at cultural and artistic ceremonies during a cabinet meeting. He stated, "We have announced that our programs in this regard will be law-based, and anyone who acts outside the law will be dealt with according to regulations." The Minister further added, "Legally, we cannot allow those who have removed their hijab to participate in artistic programs." In recent weeks, several Iranian female actors have attended cultural and artistic events without mandatory hijab, and the publication of their images has sparked widespread reactions on social media, inciting anger among government officials. The Tehran Police Information Center announced on Monday that a legal case has been opened against Iranian actresses Katayoun Riahi and Pantea Bahram for the "crime of removing hijab in public and publishing images in cyberspace." According to this center, the cases of these artists have been sent to the Cultural Prosecutor's Office. Following Pantea Bahram's appearance without mandatory hijab at the Lotus Cinema complex, some social media accounts and domestic media reported the closure of this cinema hall in Tehran. Since the onset of recent nationwide protests in September, many Iranian female artists have criticized mandatory hijab and called for the repeal of this law. In recent weeks, figures such as Katayoun Riahi, Golab Adineh, and Fatemeh Motamed-Arya have appeared in public places without mandatory hijab, receiving significant public support. With the expansion of "civil disobedience" in Iran, especially the insistence of women and girls on "optional covering," the Islamic Republic officials are increasing pressure and threats and shutting down businesses to maintain their position in the "hijab stronghold." However, based on images and reports from Iran, they have not achieved much success in this regard. Continued actions against opponents of mandatory hijab; legal cases formed against Katayoun Riahi and Pantea Bahram. The reminder of mandatory hijab in Shahzadeh Garden in Kerman resulted in a death; user reactions: another "Mahsa Amini." Government institutions encourage actions against opponents of mandatory hijab; Ali Khamenei considered the "enemy" as the factor in "putting people against each other." Friday prayer leaders insist on mandatory hijab; Alam al-Huda: "Those without hijab should be deprived of social services." Pantea Bahram's presence without mandatory hijab at an artistic event; Lotus Cinema was "closed." The Ministry of Justice, the IRGC, and the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Headquarters; a special team to deal with "non-hijab" will be formed. Pantea Bahram's presence without mandatory hijab; the "iron fist of the regime" and the dismissal of a cinema manager.