Non-conservative/traditionalist women, who had worn the veil as a symbol of opposition during the revolution, had not expected veiling to become mandatory. Almost immediately after, starting from 8 March 1979 (International Women’s Day), thousands of liberal and leftist women began protesting against mandatory Hijab. The protests lasted six days, until 14 March. The protests resulted in the (temporary) retraction of mandatory veiling, and government assurances that Khomeini’s statement was only a recommendation.
Khomeini, denied that any non-hijab wearing women were part of the revolution, telling Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci in February 1979:”the women who contributed to the revolution were and are women who wear modest clothes. … these coquettish women, who wear makeup and put their necks, hair and bodies on display in the streets, did not fight the Shah. They have done nothing righteous. They do not know how to be useful, neither to society, nor politically or vocationally. And the reason is because they distract and anger people by exposing themselves.”
