Iran’s parliament has passed a bill aimed at imposing harsher penalties on women who refuse to wear the mandatory Islamic headscarf in public and those who support them. The decision comes just days after the anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who had been detained by the morality police for violating the country’s dress code. Her death while in custody triggered months of protests, with many demonstrators calling for the overthrow of Iran’s theocratic regime.
Provisions of the Bill
The 70-item bill broadens the scope of punishments to include business owners who serve women not wearing the mandatory headscarf, known as hijab, and activists who organize against its enforcement. Violators could face penalties of up to 10 years in prison if the offense occurs in an organized manner.
Parliamentary Approval and Next Steps
The bill received approval from 152 lawmakers in Iran’s 290-seat parliament. However, it must be ratified by the Guardian Council, a clerical body serving as a constitutional watchdog, before it becomes law. Initially, the law would be in effect for a preliminary period of three years.
Background: Mahsa Amini’s Death and Subsequent Protests
The legislation follows the death of Mahsa Amini on September 16, 2022, which ignited widespread protests. Amini had been detained by the morality police for violating the dress code. The subsequent demonstrations persisted until early this year when a heavy crackdown on dissent led to the deaths of over 500 protesters and the detention of more than 22,000 individuals.
Despite the crackdown, many women continued to challenge the rules regarding hijab, leading to a renewed campaign to enforce the dress code over the summer. Iran’s clerical rulers consider the hijab law as a fundamental aspect of the Islamic Republic and attributed the protests to Western nations, without providing evidence.
Motivations of the Protesters
Protesters cited their frustration with the dress code and expressed grievances over perceived corruption and inadequate governance by the country’s ruling clerics. The protests signaled widespread discontent with the state of affairs in Iran.
Separate Incident: Cleric Shot to Death
On the same day as the passing of the stricter headscarf law, a cleric was shot and killed by a gunman in the northern Iranian town of Sejas. Authorities detained the assailant, and initial reports suggest that the motive behind the attack was a personal dispute, as reported by semiofficial news agencies Fars and Tasnim.
During the height of the protests, several clerics were attacked, including the fatal shooting of a senior Shiite cleric by an armed guard at a bank in April.