In Iran, female celebrities who have been convicted for not wearing the hijab have been sentenced to work in morgues as a public service. Additionally, these women are required to obtain a mental health report from a psychologist in order to be able to return to their regular jobs.
The Iranian Parliament is currently discussing a law that would increase penalties for women who are not wearing the headscarf (hijab), and for the workplaces where these women are frequently found.
President Ebrahim Raisi, in a statement on Wednesday, issued a warning, stating, “I’m telling you, this lack of headscarves will definitely be put to an end.”
Authorities have begun sending warning messages to women spotted without headscarves in cars.
In this context, around 1 million messages have been sent to citizens. Over time, approximately 2,000 cars have been impounded, and more than 4,000 women have been summoned to the prosecutor’s office.
What does the new proposed law entail?
The new proposed law being debated in the Iranian Parliament could lead to even stricter penalties for women. The draft suggests fines and imprisonment for women who do not wear the headscarf with fines potentially going up to 360 million Iranian Rials (approximately $720).
Additionally, the draft law calls for increased gender segregation in schools, parks, hospitals, and other public areas.
Moreover, businesses that employ women or serve female customers not wearing headscarves could face fines equivalent to up to three months’ income. The draft also includes provisions to forbid ‘offending’ celebrities from exiting the country or performing on stage.
Furthermore, the proposal grants intervention authority to the volunteer-based Besiç forces of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guards, as well as intelligence agencies, which have previously used force to suppress nationwide protests. This authority would extend to intervening in situations where women are not wearing headscarves.
“Will lead to more problems,” critics say
Former Iran Revolutionary Guards commander turned Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, Izatullah Zarghami, known for his hardline stance, warns that severe punishments such as mandatory morgue duties will “lead to more significant problems rather than solving the issue of headscarves.”
One of Iran’s prominent lawyers, Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabei, even if the draft law were to be passed, considers the clause in question as “meaningless” since “most women do not believe in it.” He adds, “They will realize the law is not enforceable.”