Following widespread protests from the public and social media users against the presence of 'women in chadors and men with cameras' at Tehran metro stations and reminders for women to adhere to mandatory dress codes, some government media outlets on Wednesday, December 2, attempted to portray this action as legal, spontaneous, and popular. The Hamshahri newspaper, the media organ of the Tehran municipality, wrote under the headline 'Dear, Your Scarf...' that 'this is a simple and kind reminder for observing hijab. Within the framework allowed by law, it is a verbal reminder; no more, no less, and it is done with polite, dignified, and calm reminders, without the slightest confrontation or physical altercation.' The newspaper further quoted one of the individuals stationed at metro stations filming women who refuse to comply with the hijab and mandatory dress code, stating: 'If our reminder is not heeded, we will identify faces with the cameras that have recorded the images and refer them to judicial authorities for necessary actions.' The Hamshahri writer also claimed: 'Statistics show that over 80% of the Iranian people accept hijab as an important religious principle and believe in covering; fundamentally, the issue is not the compulsion of hijab, but the compulsion of being uncovered.' The Fars News Agency also reported in an interview with Leila Benabari, introduced as 'the Secretary of the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in the Basij Sisters' Area of Hazrat Maryam, Imam Reza District,' stating: 'It is the indifference of some that has led to a number of women being uncovered. Promotion of virtue and prevention of vice is our trump card in allegiance to the Imam of the Time. Most of our activities revolve around verbal reminders; we also have a kindness table where we give gifts to women to encourage them to wear hijab.' The conservative newspaper 'Javan' also wrote in a note titled 'Limiting Men, a Substitute for Hijab' that 'men, due to their physiological characteristics, are stimulated by sight; therefore, to prevent men from falling into corruption, merely reminding them to guard their gaze is insufficient and cannot guarantee a good and reliable solution to this issue. Hence, a stronger and more deterrent mechanism is needed, and for this reason, Almighty God has asked women to cover their bodies in the presence of men to prevent creating the grounds for sin for men.' Meanwhile, on the previous day, Mohammad Taqi Naqdali, a member of the Legal and Judicial Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, called for the swift submission of a report addressing the Guardian Council's objections to the Chastity and Hijab Bill to the council, stating: 'The faithful society is waiting for the finalization of this bill.'
Dear, Your Scarf; The New Campaign of the Islamic Republic to Impose 'Mandatory Hijab' on Women
The Islamic Republic is intensifying its campaign to enforce mandatory hijab on women, framing it as a legal and popular initiative despite public backlash. Government media are portraying the enforcement as a necessary moral duty, while officials claim a majority of Iranians support hijab as a religious principle. This situation highlights ongoing tensions between state-imposed dress codes and public dissent.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Iranian government is intensifying its campaign to enforce mandatory hijab for women, framing it as a popular and legal initiative despite public dissent. Media outlets are portraying this enforcement as a moral duty, claiming widespread support among the populace.
- Government media claim over 80% of Iranians support hijab as a religious principle.
- Officials are using surveillance and reminders to enforce compliance with hijab laws.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Mandatory hijab laws have been a contentious issue in Iran since the 1979 revolution, leading to ongoing protests and debates about women's rights.
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%