Opposition to issuing motorcycle licenses to women continues in Iran

While it was previously announced that a branch of the Administrative Court of Justice had voted to issue motorcycle licenses to women, this time the head of the Administrative Court of Justice announced that one of the branches of the court opposed issuing these licenses to women.

Mohammad Kazem Bahrami told ISNA on Sunday, December 14, that there is a "vote against the issue of issuing motorcycle licenses to women" in the Court of Justice, and this vote is not final.

According to this official of the Administrative Court of Justice, if the final votes are conflicting, the matter will be referred to the general assembly.

The issue of requiring women to have motorcycle licenses began with the publication of a "judgment" by one of the branches of the Administrative Court of Justice in Isfahan, which ruled in favor of a woman's complaint against the police.

However, on Monday, August 4, the Administrative Court of Justice announced that the ruling was not final and that the police force had requested an appeal against the ruling.

An informed source from the Administrative Court of Justice also told IRNA that it is unlikely that this ruling will be upheld on appeal. The appeal ruling has not yet been announced.

Unlike cycling, women's motorcycling is not legally prohibited in Iran, as the requirements for obtaining a license do not specify gender. However, motorcycle licenses are not issued to women, and this segment of society cannot freely ride motorcycles on the streets.

Previously, Hadi Sadeghi, the deputy cultural minister of the judiciary, had said on August 6 about women riding bicycles and motorcycles that in Islamic culture, riding a saddle is disliked for women, but it is not forbidden. There is no religious objection to riding a motorcycle, but riding a motorcycle may cause women to be less careful about their hijab.

Source: Voice of America