The Islamic Republic's Imposition of Dress Code; From Tie Bans to Mandatory Hijab

Preventing the holding of a lawyers' conference due to some attendees wearing ties and the expressed disdain of the Friday prayer leader of Rasht towards women opposing mandatory hijab represents the latest phase of the Iranian government's confrontation with citizens' choice of dress. Rasul Flahati, the representative of the Supreme Leader in Rasht, addressed women who did not comply with the mandatory hijab at the closing ceremony of the Children's Theater Festival of Sacrifice, stating: "I am disgusted by all those who have unveiled here." Although attendees at the event reacted negatively to the remarks of the Friday prayer leader about the presence of women who, according to him, unveiled, they responded with applause in support of opponents of the mandatory hijab. According to published reports, Rasul Flahati left the artistic event, which was being broadcast live on television, after expressing his disdain for women opposing the hijab. The derogatory remarks of the representative of the Supreme Leader in Rasht drew criticism from some social media users, including a cleric. Mohammad Amiri Savadkouhi, a user who introduced himself as a cleric and Shia researcher, described the behavior of the Friday prayer leader of Rasht in a tweet as "ugly and unethical." The insulting behavior of the Islamic Republic officials towards citizens demanding optional dress is not limited to women. The opening ceremony of the General Union of Iranian Bar Associations (Scuda), which was scheduled to take place on May 2 and 3 in Ahvaz, was also canceled due to some participants wearing ties. According to the Vice President of the Khuzestan Bar Association, Ismail Jowijeri, after lawyers refused the security's request to remove their ties, security agents cut off the microphone of the meeting hall and prevented the event from taking place. Ismail Jowijeri called the security's request illegal, stating: "Wearing a tie is not illegal, un-Islamic, or unconventional." The President of the Khuzestan Bar Association also announced that he would file a complaint against the CEO and the head of security of the conference hall. Yazdollah Taheri Nasab announced the intention to file a complaint on his Twitter. Some supporters of the Iranian government consider ties to be a symbol of Westernization and, in the absence of any legal tools, are arbitrarily attempting to impose their preferred dress code. A woman in Rasht, who does not wear the mandatory hijab and symbolizes victory, is claimed by security media to be receiving money from foreign countries to move around without the mandatory hijab. Citizens protested against a woman who reminded others about the mandatory hijab on a bus in Mashhad. There is resistance against women who take photos of women without mandatory hijab in shopping centers. Several artists opposing the mandatory hijab have been summoned; the Tehran prosecutor threatened them with detention. An exclusive interview with two journalists in Iran discussed everything from confronting "propaganda" to arrests on charges of "blackening the image."