Mandatory Hijab; Ministry of Culture Says 'Violators' Will Face Judiciary

Simultaneously with the approval of the Islamic Consultative Assembly for the experimental implementation of a plan to restrict clothing freedoms under the title 'Chastity and Hijab', the head of the Cinema Organization stated that Iranian female artists who do not comply with the mandatory hijab will be banned from working. Mohammad Khazaei, the head of the Cinema Organization, said that these artists have a 'separate issue' and 'the responsibility for their decision-making is not with the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance but rather with the judiciary.' In the latest instance of public opposition from artists and cinema professionals against the government's mandatory hijab, actress Vishka Asayesh published images of herself with optional attire on social media on Tuesday, September 19. It is reported that Ms. Asayesh is currently in France and likely does not intend to return to Iran. The 'mandatory hijab' is one of the laws enforced since the 1979 Revolution in Iran. This law has faced significant opposition from women and human rights activists. In recent years, several Iranian female artists have opposed the mandatory hijab. Some of these artists have been arrested, tried, or forced to leave Iran. Mohammad Khazaei, the head of the Cinema Organization, stated last December following a wave of photos without hijab shared by artists and their joining the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement and boycotting the Fajr Festival, that if someone regrets their 'unveiling' and thinks they made a mistake, the way is open for them. The director of the Film Distribution and Screening Supervision Office of the Cinema Organization of the Ministry of Culture stated on September 10 that artists opposing the Islamic Republic's mandates are 'lawbreakers' and told the state news agency IRNA: 'Actors or individuals who break the law before the completion of a film must return the wages they received from that project and compensate the producer for damages.' Over the past year, during the nationwide protests that began after the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police, several artists and actors have supported these protests, particularly female artists and filmmakers who published images of themselves without the mandatory hijab, which displeased the authorities of the Islamic Republic. The approval of the hijab and chastity bill in the parliament; an effort to pit citizens against each other. A member of parliament: actors should commit to a two-year hijab for each film; indifference of protesting actors. Homayoun Ghanizadeh criticized the prison sentence of Saeed Roustayi: a sign of desperation from the system. Taraneh Alidoosti, a protesting actress: my passport is with the Ministry of Intelligence; I am not leaving Iran. Kourosh Yaghmaei protested the unauthorized broadcast of his works on state television. Responses from pop music singers to the statements of the Minister of Culture: do not lie to the people.