UN Experts Describe Mandatory Hijab Bill as 'Gender Apartheid'

On Friday, UN human rights experts expressed strong concern over the bill known as 'Chastity and Hijab', labeling it as 'gender apartheid'. According to eight UN experts, including Javaid Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, 'the draft of this law can be described as a form of gender apartheid as it appears that the authorities intend to govern through systematic discrimination aimed at the complete submission of women and girls.' These experts stated that 'the family support bill through the promotion of chastity and hijab' and existing restrictions are inherently discriminatory and lead to gender-based harassment. They warned of severe punishments for women and girls opposing mandatory hijab, stating that '[this] bill violates fundamental rights including the right to participate in cultural life, prohibition of gender discrimination, freedom of thought and expression, peaceful assembly, and the right to access social, educational, and health services, and freedom of movement.' They noted that the Iranian government's use of culture 'as a tool to restrict the rights of women and girls is inappropriate... [and] culture is shaped and evolves with the participation of all.' The experts added that the misuse of 'public morality' to deprive women and girls of their freedoms deepens and expands 'gender discrimination and marginalization' and will have widespread negative consequences for children and society as a whole. According to UN experts, months after the killing of Zhina (Mahsa) Amini in the custody of the morality police, the authorities of the Islamic Republic introduced a system of punishments against women and girls that violates a range of their fundamental freedoms and social and economic rights. They urged the Iranian authorities to revise the mandatory hijab bill in accordance with international human rights standards and to ensure that Iranian women and girls fully enjoy their rights. Following widespread anti-government protests last year, which escalated after the killing of Mahsa Amini in custody, opposition to certain laws such as mandatory hijab became more pronounced, prompting the Islamic Republic's institutions to intensify crackdowns and impose political-social restrictions under various pretexts. Among the measures taken by the Islamic Republic to control civil protests against women's mandatory dress code was the drafting of the 'Chastity and Hijab' bill and its submission to the Islamic Consultative Assembly. This bill is expected to be approved by representatives in accordance with Article 85 of the Islamic Republic's Constitution. According to this decision, the examination and approval of the hijab and chastity bill will be entrusted to a selected commission of the parliament, so that its details can be approved without a vote in the public session, and only the duration of its trial implementation will be put to a public vote by representatives. Qassem Sholeh-Sadi, a lawyer and former member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, stated in an interview with Voice of America that the 'Chastity and Hijab' law is like a ticking time bomb under the Islamic Republic. Narges Mohammadi: The song 'Take Off Your Scarf' by Mahdi Yarahy was a disaster for the authoritarian religious government. Repetition of the assistant to Raisi's position opposing the 85th article of the hijab bill. A parliament representative predicts: The hijab law will be implemented from the seal of execution. Ambiguity in the status of the 'Chastity and Hijab' bill; the Guardian Council: It seems that the review in the commission has not yet been completed. Continuation of disobedience against mandatory hijab in Iran; Ejei: 'It is a visible crime.' The cinema organization against artists; employing 'fleeing' or 'deviant' actors is prohibited. A lawyer stated: The 'Chastity and Hijab' bill will increase urban violence in Iran. Conflicting reports about the submission of the 'Chastity and Hijab' bill to the Guardian Council. 'Etemad' unveils reform proposals for the 'Chastity and Hijab' bill; from mandatory chador to punishing parents. A former security official: 'The hijab law will bring conflict to schools.' A parliament representative: The 'mandatory hijab' bill has also entered the student domain.