Hijab and Coercive Politics

According to FCC News Agency; in recent months, Iranian society, both men and women, by appearing in public spaces in complete silence, holding the symbols of hijab and religion, have expressed their protest against social pressures.

In this context, police and morality patrol officers, as well as Basij members, have resorted to beating, arresting, and convicting people under the charge of openly committing sin. However, people protesting mandatory hijab not only do not back down from their position but their numbers grow daily, and they strive to uphold their fundamental rights.

You may not have paid attention to it, but this criminal charge was included in the Islamic Penal Code with specific programs and objectives in the early years following the revolution.

Iranian legislators, following the Islamic Revolution, in line with the fourth and seventy-seventh principles of the Constitution, have given special attention to jurisprudential and Islamic sources as the most important source of legislation in formulating laws.

Article 638 of the Islamic Penal Code is among such laws. In this article, the display of committing a forbidden act is considered a crime and is subject to punishment. The use of the word forbidden in this article and the ambiguity of its manifestations have created ground for broad and harmful interpretations by judges. Therefore, this article is in direct contradiction with Iran’s Constitution, because only the commission of forbidden acts can be punishable when the legislator has predetermined the type and extent of punishment, not a title that encompasses any action and leaves interpretation to the judge.

Finally, given awareness of the aforementioned criminal charge, one should understand that the problem is not hijab itself, since men are of the same opinion as women in this matter. The main problem is the mandatory nature of hijab. This is actually a symbol of taking away human freedoms, such as freedom of speech, opinion, and thought. People seek tranquility, love, and a safe society. They seek freedom of thought and also peace and stress-free presence in society. An environment where no one’s opinions, thoughts, and inclinations are subject to scrutiny and investigation.

For what sin are you detaining, condemning, and punishing the children of this land? For what sin are you torturing their body and soul? They seek freedom and free thought… They seek peace and friendship.