Third Election Debate: Candidates Defend Mandatory Hijab, Continued Cold Reactions on Social Media

The third debate of the candidates for the fourteenth presidential election of Iran began at 8 PM Tehran time. Mostafa PourMohammadi, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Masoud Pezeshkian, Saeed Jalili, Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, and Alireza Zakani are the six candidates for this election, responding to questions focused on cultural issues in the third debate. Many candidates referred to the issue of mandatory hijab in Iran during the first hour of the debate and defended its enforcement, although they presented various solutions in this regard. The candidates' statements about the mandatory hijab, while failing to break the cold electoral atmosphere on social media, did elicit limited reactions online. Users noted that Masoud Pezeshkian's remarks opposing the beating of women in the streets over hijab issues were among the 'blessings' of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests. However, criticisms were directed at his statement that 'we need to see what we did wrong that our girls have come out this way... we need to correct behavior through education, not force.' Mohammad Javad Akbarin, a political analyst critical of the Iranian government, wrote on X: 'The common ground between conservatives and reformists is that not wearing hijab is a product of wrong upbringing; they only differ in how to deal with undisciplined women, where the government is not the decision-maker.' Users criticized the reformist candidate for repeatedly stating in his speeches, 'We need to see where we went wrong that this happened,' arguing that he views women opposing mandatory hijab as 'sick' like addicts who should not be subjected to violence. Some independent users questioned whether, when Pezeshkian says we should start addressing hijab from 'early ages and kindergartens,' we should still be optimistic about the disbandment of the morality police under his potential government. Some political figures and journalists also pointed out that the absence of at least one woman in the all-male group of six candidates is the best evidence of the government's structural view of women, emphasizing that this structure is seriously opposed to the active participation of women. This is why Saeed Jalili feels entitled to say, 'Hijab is the clothing of women's social presence.' In response to the candidates' statements about women's rights, users shared images of women killed in protests following the death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini while in the custody of the morality police, the presence of hijab enforcers in Tehran's metro, and the formation of a tunnel referred to as the 'Tunnel of Terror,' as well as violent encounters with women in the streets over hijab issues. PourMohammadi: 'Hollywood and Netflix define the aspirations of our women.' The first speech of this debate was by Mostafa PourMohammadi, a conservative candidate, who claimed that 'women have made progress in the Islamic Republic,' but simultaneously stated that 'we still do not trust women and have not believed in them.' He lamented that 'unfortunately, others are defining the aspirations of our women in Hollywood, Bollywood, BTS, and Netflix.' From the dream of women's presidency in Iran to the desire for equality in the world. Mr. PourMohammadi criticized unnamed individuals who, according to him, 'have confused the language of satisfaction and trust with the language of threat and baton in culture. If we resort to the language of the baton, the response will be insults and harsh words.' Qalibaf: 'We do not accept an equal gender perspective.' Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, a conservative candidate, stated that 'if we want a strong Iran, we need a strong family,' but also said, 'we do not accept an equal gender perspective, but gender justice is certainly a priority for us.' He defined the role of women as 'mothers and wives, educators of children, and homemakers,' and said that 'in the next government, we must act in a way that does not put women in a dilemma of being either housewives or effective in society! We must provide both for women.' Pezeshkian's criticism of the treatment of women and girls in the streets. Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist candidate, referring to the statements of these two candidates, said: 'If things were as we say, the situation should have been much better, but why is it like this?' He criticized the treatment of women and girls in the streets, stating: 'When there is a protest, they create a case. We have not been able to solve violence against women. But now we say we are respecting them! Respect must be in action.' Mr. Pezeshkian emphasized: 'When women's rights are ignored in society, our voice must be loud.' Jalili: 'Western civilization has reached a dead end on the issue of women.' Saeed Jalili, another conservative candidate, claimed that 'Western civilization has reached a dead end on the issue of women and has faced serious challenges.' He continued to assert: 'Iran is introducing its women into the scene with a new model and showcasing a model to the world that has left everyone astonished. A Muslim, entrepreneurial, scholarly, and exemplary mother is showing herself.' Ghazizadeh Hashemi: Criticism of some candidates for 'exploiting' women. Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, a conservative candidate, also criticized the West and some candidates, saying they 'exploit women for electoral purposes.' He added that 'in the world, we must ally with all movements that share our values on family issues. Women are not a problem; they are an opportunity and a driving force.' Zakani: 'Talks about women are rhetorical.' Alireza Zakani, a conservative candidate, stated in his discussion: 'Many of the statements made are rhetorical, but Islam has placed the status of women and girls in such a way that they are opportunities, not problems.' He stated that the way to deal with those he calls 'unveiled' can only be through respect. Mr. Zakani, however, considered mandatory hijab to be 'both religious and legal,' but said that the way to deal with unveiled women can only be through respect and legal confrontation. These statements come at a time when individuals known as 'hijab enforcers,' who operate under the municipality, confront girls and women opposing mandatory hijab in the metro. On the other hand, the former morality police, now operating under the name 'Noor Plan,' detain, fine, and imprison girls lacking mandatory hijab. Defending mandatory hijab and covering. Mostafa PourMohammadi claimed in this part of the debate that 'covering and hijab are serious concerns of society,' but said that this issue is 'complex and delicate' and 'cannot be addressed without a plan and only through harsh methods. It won't work! Why have we pulled so much that it has torn? Should we continue?' This conservative candidate said that if he reaches the presidency, he will withdraw the 'Hijab and Chastity Bill' from the parliament and in his government 'will sit down with experts, concerned individuals, and women themselves to discuss in detail what solutions and regulations should be applied.' Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf responded to PourMohammadi by saying that 'this bill has not yet become law and is still going through its process,' but claimed that 'all this law addresses the affirmative issue.' The Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly stated that 'one cannot act without respect, with tension and violence; all of this is condemned.' The so-called 'Hijab and Chastity Bill,' which was passed in response to the wave of women's opposition to mandatory hijab in June 2023 without being formally presented in the parliament, is still being shuffled between the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Guardian Council, and the objections raised by the Guardian Council to this controversial bill have not yet been resolved. This bill is centered around 'confrontation, detention, and punishment' for women who refuse mandatory hijab and grants permission for field confrontations with women to three intelligence agencies: the Ministry of Intelligence, the Intelligence Organization of the Revolutionary Guards, and the Intelligence Organization of the Law Enforcement Forces, as well as the police command, the Basij, and the headquarters for promoting virtue and preventing vice. In addition to 'field confrontations' with women, the bill emphasizes broader 'gender segregation' in universities, administrative centers, educational institutions, parks, and tourist sites, even calling for gender segregation in 'hospital treatment sections.' Furthermore, the mentioned bill imposes severe penalties, including imprisonment and fines, ranging from 'imprisonment of more than five to ten years' and 'fines up to 36 million tomans' in cases of women refusing mandatory hijab. Masoud Pezeshkian expressed a different viewpoint on this matter, stating: 'I oppose any kind of bullying or violent treatment of any human being, especially women.' He stated: 'All my family, from daughters-in-law to sisters, are veiled and even wear chadors; but should we confront someone who does not want to be like them?' This reformist candidate added: 'Behavior cannot change with law; just as they previously could not forcefully remove hijab from the heads of Iranian women, we also will not be able to forcefully put hijab on them.' Saeed Jalili posed the question: 'Why is the role of housewives not recognized?' and stated: 'Many of the expenses allocated to combat social harms in bureaucratic institutions yield zero results and should be allocated here, to housewives.' This conservative candidate defended mandatory hijab, stating that 'hijab is for women's social presence, it is the clothing of women's social presence to maintain this boundary.' Ghazizadeh Hashemi, in his remarks in this section, stated: 'We are a bit behind the times. We are discussing issues that were relevant to women 20-30 years ago.' He stated: 'Today, our main power is women,' and defined their main problem as the patriarchal definition of jobs. The internet censorship plan: Why was the protection plan left unaddressed? Alireza Zakani, like in the previous two debates, addressed Mostafa PourMohammadi and Masoud Pezeshkian, saying: 'Mr. Pezeshkian and Mr. PourMohammadi are making statements, but your friends have had the country in their hands for 32 years; you must answer why nothing was done?' He stated: 'Mr. PourMohammadi should answer more.' The conservative mayor of Tehran added: 'You cannot provide a credible answer by evading responsibility. Women are opportunities. The issue is meritocracy. In the government, we will utilize women more than in previous periods.' The candidates' debate on social media. Mr. PourMohammadi criticized filtering, stating: 'Of course, it was a defensible decision at one point. But its continuation is concerning and problematic.' According to him, 'the VPN mafia empties people's pockets, limits speed, and compromises security.' Mr. PourMohammadi stated: 'I definitely oppose filtering because it brings many dangers and much corruption.' Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf also criticized filtering, stating that 'after filtering, the use of VPNs increased from 22% to 67%. In the near future, internet speed must be resolved, and people's irritability must be alleviated.' He pointed out the lack of public interest in domestic messaging apps, stating: 'One reason people turn to foreign platforms is that they feel insecure.' Masoud Pezeshkian also expressed his opposition to filtering, stating: 'We have lost many jobs due to filtering, and many lives have been disrupted.' He stated: 'On the one hand, some have profited from this, selling filters. Who is selling these? Why is it not investigated?' This election candidate added: 'When we talk like this, it seems the problem lies elsewhere, and we are all opposed here.' Mr. Pezeshkian stated that if he reaches the presidency, he will put an end to these prohibitions that have caused anger and destroyed virtual jobs. He also defended 'government intervention in the internet' during specific crises, claiming that 'this is the case in all countries. But now, what is the need to filter the internet and have some buy filters?' The Islamic Republic of Iran cut off the internet during the protests of December 2019 and imposed severe filtering on the internet during the protests following the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police to prevent the dissemination of information about the crackdowns and the sending of protest videos to the outside world. Ghazizadeh Hashemi acknowledged that 'smart government and digital economy are impossible without the internet; criticism of officials and oversight over officials cannot happen without the internet.' He admitted that 'the restrictions have not been effective; Telegram has 40 million subscribers, indicating that the restrictions we imposed have not been effective. In some areas, we have overdone it.' Alireza Zakani, without naming Masoud Pezeshkian and Mostafa PourMohammadi, stated: 'Some of these gentlemen who speak about filtering initially acted recklessly and created conditions for messaging apps that were not based on our country's regulations.' He added: 'Then they opened a shop about filtering. These same people are in the headquarters of some candidates.' According to this conservative candidate, 'if the servers of some of these messaging apps come to Iran, there will be no filtering.' These statements come at a time when foreign messaging apps have rejected multiple requests from Iranian officials to transfer their servers to the country. Mostafa PourMohammadi continued this discussion by criticizing Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, stating: 'You made beautiful statements, but you were in parliament for four years; why was nothing pursued?' He stated that the financial turnover of VPNs in Iran is '50% of the total financial turnover of the virtual space; well, sir! In the government of martyr Raisi, which I also defend, we had three years; what did we do? I do not want to name anyone now because I do not consider some gentlemen to be serious candidates.' It seems his reference was to Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi and Alireza Zakani. Zakani to Pezeshkian: 'I will not let you become president.' When it was Masoud Pezeshkian's turn, he stated: 'I do not need to respond to Mr. Zakani.'