Three Cultural Institutions: The Hijab Law is 'Anti-National and Divisive'

Three cultural institutions in Iran have issued a statement labeling the recent law known as 'Chastity and Hijab' as 'anti-national and divisive' and have called for its repeal. The House of Cinema, the House of Theatre, and the House of Music of Iran stated in their statement that this law 'will never have public acceptance for implementation.' The statement, a copy of which was published on the House of Cinema's website on Wednesday, December 14, asserts that 'we find it necessary to express our serious concerns regarding the law known as 'Hijab and Chastity.' It adds that 'the widespread concern is directed at the anti-national and divisive spirit of this law, which its authors, disregarding principles of wisdom and rationality and the need for social acceptance, are expanding the scope of criminalization beyond half of the society, igniting the most unprecedented and largest grounds for national division, which only suggests a predominant intention to undermine social tranquility.' Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of Iran, also criticized the 'Chastity and Hijab' law on December 12, stating that its implementation is not feasible, that society will not accept it, and that it will create dissatisfaction. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, announced on December 7 that the 'Chastity and Hijab' law would be implemented on December 23. The announcement of this news and the publication of details of this parliamentary resolution, officially titled 'The Law for Supporting Families through Promoting the Culture of Chastity and Hijab,' has prompted widespread reactions from legal experts, political activists, civil figures, and social media users. The 'Chastity and Hijab' law not only permits heavy fines against women for not adhering to the government's hijab requirements but also stipulates that girls aged 9 to 15 are required to observe mandatory hijab and will face fines and 'educational' measures for 'violating hijab.' The law also imposes heavy fines for the failure to provide surveillance camera footage by the managers of complexes and towns, as well as for designing and advertising clothing, toys, signs, or mannequins that promote the unveiling of hijab. According to this law, drivers of ride-hailing services are required to report on the adherence to mandatory hijab by passengers. The three cultural institutions further stated in their statement: 'In our opinion, as members of the cultural and artistic community, a law that deems children guilty with just a sneer and considers separation from family, prison, and reform centers necessary for them will never have public acceptance for implementation.' The statement adds that a law that considers living in the homeland as 'punishment' has no meaning other than turning the concept of homeland into a large prison. The House of Cinema, the House of Theatre, and the House of Music of Iran have called upon 'great thinkers, legal experts, and sociologists' to 'prevent the implementation of this bad and divisive law with logic, reasoning, and goodwill.'