US Support for Protesters Against Mandatory Hijab in Iran

Heather Nauert, the spokesperson for the US State Department, emphasized in a statement on Friday, February 2, that the United States supports the protests of the Iranian people against the mandatory hijab. The spokesperson stated, "The United States stands with the women and men protesting against the mandatory hijab." A few days after reports emerged about the arrest and release of a well-known protester against the mandatory hijab, known as the "Girl of Revolution Street," images and reports of other girls publicly protesting the mandatory hijab have been circulated on social media. Recently, this method of public protest by girls and women has gained broader dimensions. Heather Nauert reiterated that the US condemns the reported arrests of 29 individuals for exercising their human rights and fundamental freedoms by standing against the mandatory hijab. The Tehran police announced yesterday that they had arrested 29 individuals who removed their headscarves in protest against the mandatory hijab in the streets of the capital. The police stated that those arrested were related to the "White Wednesdays" campaign. The State Department spokesperson asserted, "The United States remains steadfast in its support for the rights of religious freedom, freedom of expression, and peaceful assembly. People should be free to choose what they wear and practice their religious beliefs as they wish. Taking this choice away from individuals undermines their independence and dignity." While the US State Department spokesperson has supported the protesters against the mandatory hijab in Iran, this action by women and girls has elicited varied reactions among the officials of the Islamic Republic. Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, the Attorney General of Iran, described the protests by women and girls removing their hijabs as "a trivial and insignificant matter," "childish," and stemming from "ignorance." The Attorney General stated, "I believe those who have done this have acted more out of ignorance and provocation of feelings, which may also have foreign influences." According to Article 638 of the Islamic Penal Code, "Women who appear in public without proper hijab will be sentenced to imprisonment from 10 days to two months or fined from 50,000 to 500,000 rials." Soheila Jelodarzadeh, a member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, considered the actions of the "Girl of Revolution Street" as a result of "unnecessary constraints," "pressures," and the "wrong behavior" of the government. Ms. Jelodarzadeh stated, "At one time, we imposed restrictions on women and placed them under unnecessary constraints. This issue caused these pressures to erupt, and the girls of Revolution Street put their headscarves on sticks."