Islamic Republic Officials Emphasize Combatting 'Improper Hijab'; 'Enforcers' to Act Independently

On Tuesday, July 9, senior officials of the Islamic Republic reiterated the need to combat 'improper hijab' and emphasized that relevant agencies should not delay their duties regarding hijab enforcement. Ebrahim Raisi, President of the thirteenth government, urged various agencies including the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Culture, Judiciary, and Law Enforcement to 'fulfill their legal obligations and not delay the implementation of their legal duties under the pretext of delays in the approval of the new hijab and chastity bill.' Simultaneously, Mohseni Ejei, head of the Judiciary, stated: 'We have laws and regulations regarding existing anomalies such as chastity and hijab. Everyone must strive to ensure that these laws and regulations are implemented as much as possible. We should not wait for the parliamentary bill, as its approval may take time, but many actions can be taken under the existing law.' On the other hand, according to Tasnim News Agency, the head of the General Inspection Organization stated: 'Enforcers do not need a judicial order to deal with crimes related to hijab and chastity and can act independently.' Zabiollah Khodayian added: 'Enforcers should act without the need for a judicial order, and if any cases are reported to the judiciary, it will act legally.' Abdolhossein Khosrowpanah, Secretary of the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council, also mentioned about the 'Hijab and Chastity Bill' to Jamaran website that 'this bill has undergone evolutionary changes in Parliament and has developed with the help of researchers from religious and academic circles, resulting in a good text and an acceptable bill, although we must wait for the Parliament's opinion.' Hossein Ahmadi-Niaz, a lawyer, stated on June 18 to Voice of America that the issues raised in the 'Chastity and Hijab Bill' are completely contrary to the Constitution of the Islamic Republic, especially Articles 34, 156, and 159. He added: 'According to this law, the Law Enforcement cannot confront improper hijab under the pretext of being a judicial body, as this institution should defend the rights of the people, and this action is a violation of the fundamental rights of the nation by an entity that should protect the rights of the people.' The final version of the so-called 'Bill for Supporting the Culture of Chastity and Hijab' was published on June 7, 2023, featuring financial penalties across all sectors, including the provision for deducting one-third of the salaries of employees from various agencies for not adhering to the compulsory hijab mandated by the Islamic Republic. Some members of Parliament and responsible officials have deemed this law 'insufficiently deterrent' and have called for changes to it. Farough Kanani: The government's focus on the hijab issue is to distract the public from the demand for regime change. Civil resistance of Iranian women against compulsory hijab continues despite all government and security pressures. Several protesters against the hijab situation were detained for a few hours in front of the Judiciary. Ezzatollah Zarghami's reaction to the closure of tourism centers over compulsory hijab: 'Restrooms are a priority.' European labor unions have called for the release of three imprisoned labor and civil activists. Taraneh Alidoosti, a protesting actress, stated: 'My passport is with the Ministry of Intelligence; I am not leaving Iran.' Referendum and elections; Haeri: If people do not understand 'referendum,' then they cannot participate in elections either.