Statement from Dozens of Iranian Sociologists: Abolish the 'Quasi-Law' on Hijab

A group of Iranian sociologists issued a statement expressing their opposition to a new parliamentary bill titled 'Support for Families through Promoting Chastity and Hijab.' The signatories of this statement, published on Tuesday, December 17, condemned this 'quasi-law' and argued that it contradicts the fundamental principles of legislation and infringes on the civil and social rights of the people, especially women. They called for its annulment and repeal. According to these sociologists, laws should support constructive norms in society rather than exacerbate anomalies, and any law contrary to this principle lacks legitimacy. The statement emphasized that the so-called 'Hijab and Chastity' law, by openly interfering in individuals' personal lives and restricting civil rights, particularly for women, creates discrimination and insecurity in society. Iranian sociologists also believe that its implementation will lead to 'the promotion of violence and social insecurity' and will further control women's rights through a security lens. The signatories also referred to the 'instrumental use of religion' and warned that such a law would cause 'psychological harm to the faithful' and provoke their protests and anger through the political and instrumental use of the hijab issue. They believe that such laws will reduce social capital and, by weakening national cohesion, will have dangerous consequences. They also warned about the intensification of previously suppressed protests and social unrest accompanied by violence, as well as the polarization of society and the spread of hatred, emphasizing that the enforcement of such laws could exacerbate political and social crises. The text of this statement was published on the Telegram channel of Ahmad Bokharaei, a sociologist and one of its signatories, and it bears the signatures of 99 sociologists. The Islamic Consultative Assembly approved the 'Chastity and Hijab' bill on September 20, 2023, a year after the death of Mahsa Zhina Amini in the custody of the morality police and the beginning of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests, which included multiple heavy penalties for opponents of mandatory hijab after it was finalized in a special commission under Article 85 of the Constitution. This law has sparked opposition and protests from many human rights defenders and civil activists on social media. Several cultural and artistic organizations and a number of journalists have also called for the abandonment of this law. On December 15, two members of the Iranian parliament announced that the implementation of the so-called 'Chastity and Hijab' law has been 'temporarily' postponed based on a decision by the Supreme National Security Council.