Faezeh Hashemi: Allow opponents of compulsory hijab to gather

Faezeh Hashemi is among those who have reacted to the offensive remarks made by Alam al-Huda, a broadcaster, about women who "do not wear hijab." She says that the laws of a society need to be updated regarding hijab.

In recent days, on the occasion of "Chastity and Hijab Week," official platforms and the Iranian Broadcasting Corporation devoted a large volume of their promotional programs to the issue of women's veiling. However, after these programs ended, some statements remained in the media and social networks.

A few days have passed since a TV host made offensive statements at a "Hijab and Chastity" promotional conference, as well as statements by Ayatollah Alam al-Hoda.

The representative of the Supreme Leader in Khorasan Razavi had previously used the term “vulgar” to refer to women whose hijab did not conform to government definitions. The TV host had also likened those women who “badly wear hijab” and resisted the warnings of those who enjoin good and forbid evil to animals, and had spoken of them in inappropriate terms.

Speeches that have provoked many reactions.

Faezeh Hashemi: “Let others rally too”

Faezeh Hashemi, in response to Alam al-Huda's recent statements and the presenter's insults to a section of women in society, said: "The fact that a woman's hijab is too short or that she does not wear a hijab does not give us permission to insult her."

Referring to the statements of the moderator of the “Chastity and Hijab” conference, who, citing the Quran, likened those who wear the hijab to animals, this political activist said: “The Quran never makes such a comparison and does not force anyone to do anything. Why don’t they cite the Quran’s emphasis on slander, backbiting, and slander? Aren’t all of these things against religion? The phrases these people use are not even found in unreliable narrations, let alone the Quran.”

Hashemi pointed out that using such language against a group of women "not only does not have a positive effect," and said: "It has been shown in the past that such policies by those in power and the media, while perhaps making people afraid to express their opinions in the short term, have had many negative effects in the long term."

Faezeh Hashemi addressed the “power holders” and asked them: “If they are looking for a weight-lifting, let those who do not think like them, according to the constitution, hold such gatherings without the slightest concern. That is when we can understand the value of the work of both groups. But in the current situation, the message of holding such a gathering can only be considered the proverbial “self-talk and self-laughter.”

In an interview with Borna News Agency in May of this year, Faezeh Rafsanjani referred to the opposition of a large number of religious authorities and leaders to making the hijab mandatory, saying that it had led to “anti-religion and avoidance of the hijab.” She added: “Currently, there have been changes in the way women view the hijab issue. Many people like me who oppose the mandatory hijab do not mean that they will remove their hijab if it becomes optional.”

Continuing her recent speech, Faezeh Hashemi said, "A law must be acceptable, comprehensive, and non-discriminatory," adding, "Perhaps a law may have met the needs of society in one period, but may not in another. Even Islam needs to be updated, and that is the role of the mujtahid. I believe that the laws of a society must be updated and laws that are sufficiently acceptable must be enacted."

Judiciary Spokesperson: “We need to see if everyone views it the same way you do?”

In a press conference on Tuesday, July 15, one of the topics was the insults from official platforms. In response to a question about insults to people in some platforms and mentioning Ahmad Alam al-Huda's remarks, Judiciary Spokesperson Gholamhossein Esmaili said: "It is an accepted issue that the legal system must defend the rights of citizens. The only place where the public prosecutor has a duty to intervene is where insults are made to some officials or elements of the system. They have the right to prosecute individuals. Of course, if an issue disturbs the public mind, the public prosecutor must intervene."

Esmaili continued: "We need to see if everyone views it the same way you do. It should also be kept in mind that the Special Court for the Clergy is independent, and I am not allowed to comment on that court."

Ali Zakariai: “You haven’t seen a sexual joke”

IRNA News Agency, in a report on the sidelines of the hijab conference and the words of a satirist (Ali Zakariai), writes: "Ali Zakariai, who used to sing eulogies, has turned to political satire since 2013."

In response to the question whether his words were interpreted sexually, he said: "My wife, sister, and nieces were also in the same group, and none of them had such an interpretation. Those who had this interpretation have not seen a sexual joke that they say is a dirty sexual joke."

He also responded to a question about comparing those who do not wear hijab to "dogs" and said: "I said only the offspring of the Messiah of Alinejad get bitten, and I believe they are animals."

The statements of Alam al-Hoda and the announcer of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting also attracted reactions on social media. One of these reactions was that of Laleh Sabouri, an Iranian actress, who used the hashtag "apology" and called on the authorities to force Mr. Zakariai to apologize to women.

Source: DW