Hijab and Chastity Law: Arrest, Seal Up, and Fine

Jalil Rashidi, a parliament representative, reacted to the hijab and chastity law that states we will arrest, seal up, and fine.

A law regarding hijab and chastity that was passed by parliament has resulted in arrests, sealing of some public places, monetary fines, and so on, which is not unlike waging war against people for not complying with mandatory hijab. A law that entails arrests and fines.

Jalil Rashidi-Kouchi, the representative of Marvdasht in parliament, reacted to this law and said: “The implementation of the hijab and chastity law increases public dissatisfaction. It is almost constantly stated that we will arrest, seal up, and fine, but we have not at all said where we will encourage, incentivize, support, and guide. We have people of great nobility, and this does not mean that whatever the government does, the people will stand behind it.”

Considering the economic difficulties in society and the poverty prevailing among people, he added: “I believe the government must act more strongly in the economic sphere. They say we have controlled inflation, but people’s dining tables tell a different story. The prices of consumer goods have risen very high and we cannot say we have controlled inflation. What has happened to housing? Has it improved, remained stable, or increased since the thirteenth government? As for rent, which is under government control and has the necessary capacity to manage it. Alongside major decisions, minor decisions should also be made in the interest of the people.”

He also remarked about the meager wages of people whose work involves the internet: “Filtering plays with people’s spirit and mind. It was supposed that after the atmosphere calmed down, filtering would be removed, but it is being strengthened day by day. Also, the prohibition of iPhones is among the decisions that unfortunately overshadow the principle of Mr. Raisi’s government.”

At the end, referring to the aforementioned matters, he continued his remarks with the implementation of the hijab and chastity law and added: “The implementation of the hijab and chastity law increases people’s dissatisfaction and there is only talk of arrest, sealing, and fines, but there is absolutely no talk of encouragement, incentive, support, and guidance. These measures are not in the hijab law and this issue is like going to court one-sidedly. I doubt that anything special will happen by fining, we need to win hearts.”