Naghali's Proposal: Punishment of 'Whipping' for Hijab Violations

In the ongoing disagreements among Islamic Republic forces regarding how to confront civil disobedience against mandatory hijab, a member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly claimed that 'unveiling is definitely a crime' and proposed the punishment of 'whipping' in addition to fines. Mohammad Taqi Naghali, secretary of the Judicial and Legal Commission of the Assembly, stated that 'the fight against hijab violations' must be 'swift' and 'besides fines, punishments such as whipping can also be used.' Previously, Roya Kashefi, a women's rights activist, told Voice of America that the Islamic Republic's efforts to maintain mandatory hijab are aimed at preserving all legal discrimination against women. According to the Student News Agency on Sunday, June 7, Naghali, speaking in a televised debate, criticized the 'Hijab and Chastity' bill as 'very simplistic,' asserting that 'unveiling is definitely a crime' and that the bill considers it a 'violation' up to three stages, dealing with violators 'with gentleness and kindness.' He objected to the penalties in this bill for those who attack in the name of 'enjoining good,' stating that 'this law' implies defending the personal space of those who unveil and 'we have tied the hands of the Basij' (a paramilitary force). Majid Emami, secretary of the Public Culture Council, responded by saying, 'We have monthly reviews,' and that for 'any reason,' the number of those who do not comply with mandatory hijab is 'much greater than you think.' He stated that '20 percent of unveilings occur daily in Tehran,' describing the 'core' of hijab violations as a 'five percent community' and including '15 to 20 percent' of passersby. Meanwhile, pressures from Islamic Republic officials on citizens and interference in their lifestyles have not been limited to public spaces over the past four decades but have also encompassed private spaces. On Sunday, the public relations of the 'Imam Ali' Corps in Qom announced that a 'special team of judicial agents' had 'identified and arrested' 23 people at a 'mixed party' in Khahak, Qom, and had also confiscated 10 of their vehicles.