On January 24, 2024, the NurPhoto photo agency published images of a gathering in front of the Islamic Consultative Assembly in Tehran, where supporters of Iran’s chastity and hijab law convened. According to the agency, the protesters aimed to express their support for the hijab bill, which has been a subject of national and international controversy. NurPhoto reported that the demonstration was primarily a reaction to recent comments made by Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s vice president for strategy, at the Davos summit, where he discussed the hijab law and its enforcement. The gathering, despite substantial promotional efforts, reportedly saw an attendance of fewer than 100 individuals.
Background of the Hijab Bill
The hijab and chastity law in Iran has been a contentious issue for decades. Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the Iranian government mandated the wearing of the hijab for women in public spaces. While enforcement of the law has fluctuated over the years, recent efforts to reinforce these regulations have sparked widespread protests and debate within the country and beyond. The new hijab bill seeks to introduce stricter penalties for non-compliance, including financial fines, restrictions on employment, and even imprisonment for repeated offenses.