Judiciary Media: Government Currency Should Be Provided for Chador Fabric

In a situation where many essential goods and even some pharmaceutical items have been excluded from receiving supportive currency, the media of the Islamic Republic's judiciary has quoted an individual referred to as an 'entrepreneur' stating that 'chadors and hijab products' should be eligible for 'government currency.' The news agency 'Mizan,' affiliated with the Islamic Republic's judiciary, quoted an individual named Narges Bamdad, described as an 'entrepreneur in the hijab products sector,' stating that a regular chador currently costs '700 to 800 thousand tomans.' It further quoted her saying that chadors and hijab products should be 'eligible for government currency' because this type of clothing is part of 'cultural goods.' Government currency, also known as 'supportive currency' or 'preferential currency,' refers to the process of allocating currency, mainly dollars, at a price lower than the market rate to producers or importers to supply important, necessary, or urgent goods for society. Majid Farahani, Deputy for Health and Social Welfare of the Islamic Republic's Planning and Budget Organization, unveiled a plan on July 19, 2022, to eliminate 'preferential currency for medicine' by removing subsidies to medicine importers or producers. Although this policy led to a sharp increase in drug prices, in mid-July, a member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly warned of a drug shortage, describing the situation as 'critical' and prompting a government response. Now, despite the fact that clothing items are not a priority for preferential currency allocation, the media of the Islamic Republic's judiciary has reported statements calling for the provision of government and supportive currency for the 'hijab sector.' The individual referred to as an 'entrepreneur' by the judiciary media claimed that 'hijab products,' especially chadors, should be eligible for government currency because 'the chador is a cultural commodity' and should be offered 'cheaply' to reduce household costs. On the other hand, alongside governmental efforts to intensify the enforcement of mandatory hijab for women and allocate substantial public funds for this purpose, civil resistance against compulsory covering continues.