Tehran: The Iranian parliament has approved the hijab and chastity bill, which mandates women to wear hijabs and introduces strict penalties on those who do not.
The hijab and chastity bill was drafted by the Iranian judiciary on the instructions of former President Ebrahim Raisi in response to the increasing reluctance of many women to wear the hijab.
Iranian media reports say the legislation imposes fines equivalent to up to 20 months of the average salary for women who improperly wear a hijab or forgo it altogether in public or on social media.
Fines must be paid within 10 days, failing which violators will face restrictions on access to government services, such as the issuance or renewal of passports, driver’s licenses and exit permits.
The legislation requires institutions to provide CCTV footage to help police identify people opposing the compulsory hijab. Noncompliance will result in fines or the dismissal of the institutions’ officials.
It also criminalizes the design or promotion of items such as clothing, statues and toys deemed to encourage “nudity” or lack of veiling.
The Industry, Mines and Trade Ministry has been tasked with monitoring clothing producers and suppliers to ensure garments comply with hijab legislation.
The law was passed by lawmakers four months into Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian’s term.
The Iranian parliament has forwarded the law to Pezeshkian for his signature, which is required before the law can take effect.
Under the country’s constitution, the president has the authority to withhold notification to the relevant agencies, effectively delaying its enforcement.
