Campaign with Nearly 6,000 Signatures: We Iranian Women Demand the Right to Ride Motorcycles

Over the past few days, nearly 6,000 people have signed a campaign petition to the Speaker and members of Parliament requesting the removal of barriers to issuing motorcycle licenses for women. These citizens stated in part of the campaign statement that we women of this land seek to realize one of the most basic citizenship rights, which is the use of transportation vehicles such as motorcycles. Years ago, Branch 31 of the Administrative Court of Justice issued a ruling requiring “NAJA traffic police to issue motorcycle driving licenses for qualified women,” which has not been implemented to date.

According to Hrana news agency, citing Asr-e Iran, over the past few days, nearly 6,000 people have signed a campaign petition to the Speaker and members of Parliament requesting the removal of barriers to issuing motorcycle licenses for women.

Under Article 20 of the Traffic Violations and Driving Law, issuing driving licenses is the responsibility of law enforcement. This law details the conditions for issuing motorcycle licenses, in which there is no mention of gender.

Years ago, Branch 31 of the Administrative Court of Justice issued a ruling requiring “NAJA traffic police to issue motorcycle driving licenses for qualified women,” which law enforcement requested to be reviewed.

Masoumeh Ebtekar, Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, also wrote on her Instagram one day after photos of women riding motorcycles in Tabriz were published: “With regard to safety guidelines, [the motorcycle] is a good transportation vehicle for women.”

Based on this, the signatories of this campaign, numbering nearly 6,000 people, addressed the Speaker of Parliament in the campaign statement: We women of this land seek to realize one of the most basic citizenship rights, which is the use of transportation vehicles such as motorcycles. Throughout Islamic history, many virtuous women have engaged in horseback riding, and there has been no religious jurisprudential objection to this act. In support of this claim, a relevant ruling issued on 14 Mordad 1398 by Branch 31 of the Administrative Court of Justice has not been implemented.

They also, noting that “given the alarming increase in car prices and the financial inability of many women to purchase them,” have asked Parliament members to “in the course of fulfilling their supervisory duty to ensure the proper implementation of laws and regulations, undertake relevant proceedings for the fastest possible issuance of motorcycle driving licenses for requesting women” as part of their agenda.

It is worth noting that this campaign is collecting signatures until 23 Ordibehesht at (https://www.karzar.net/motorcycle-license).

Source: Hrana