U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Calls for Increased Sanctions on Iran Over Mandatory Hijab Enforcement

On Monday, May 6, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued a statement highlighting the increasing repression of women and girls in Iran due to their 'defiance' of mandatory hijab laws, calling for further sanctions against Iranian officials, including security officials. The statement noted that the United States, in coordination with its allies, has imposed sanctions on the Iranian government for military actions and cyber operations, and now must hold Iranian officials accountable for human rights abuses supported by international law. The statement reads: 'Iranian officials ruthlessly violate women's religious freedom and target anyone who defends freedom of religion or belief.' The Commission further urged the U.S. to impose additional sanctions, freeze the assets of Iranian government entities and officials responsible for violating the right to freedom of religion and belief, and ban their entry into the U.S. The Commission also mentioned that although the so-called 'Hijab and Chastity' bill has not yet been approved by the Guardian Council of the Islamic Republic, it is monitoring the government's efforts to further suppress freedom of religion or belief. The statement emphasized that the Iranian government's enforcement of mandatory hijab is aimed not only at targeting women but also at broadly suppressing any dissenting voices, including human rights activists, journalists, lawyers, students, and artists. The Commission pointed out that this new wave of arrests comes just weeks after a United Nations expert panel concluded that the repression due to mandatory hijab and other violations of religious freedom constitutes a crime against humanity. The statement called on the U.S. government to fully implement the 'Mahsa Law.' President Joe Biden enacted the 'Mahsa Law' on April 24, which had been passed by Congress. Under this law, Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the thirteenth government of the Islamic Republic, and their related entities are sanctioned for 'human rights violations' and 'supporting terrorism.'