Implementation of Chastity and Hijab Law Suspended by Decision of Supreme National Security Council

“Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf” announced the suspension of the implementation of the Chastity and Hijab Law by a decision of the Supreme National Security Council.

Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, announced that according to the decision of the Supreme National Security Council, the implementation of the Chastity and Hijab Law has been suspended. This decision, in addition to being approved by Ali Khamenei, has also been ratified by the parliament.

A representative of the Islamic Association of Students at Allameh Tabatabai University raised a question about this decision with the Speaker of Parliament, to which Qalibaf replied: “The Supreme National Security Council has a resolution that if any matters cause conflict and tension, the secretariat can suspend it. That is, the secretariat has this authority in itself, but nevertheless this matter came to the parliamentary floor and everyone unanimously voted for it. This resolution has also been approved by Ali Khamenei, the Leader of Iran.”

The student representative objected to the suspension and approval of the implementation of this law. This law was passed two years ago in response to nationwide protests and the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement in Iran, which triggered numerous reactions both domestically and internationally.

This law, which consisted of 47 articles and was approved by the parliament and the Guardian Council, imposed heavy fines on women who refuse mandatory hijab. Additionally, it included fines and business closure for business owners who violate chastity and hijab regulations in their establishments.

Many women and girls in Iran have been detained over the past two years for not observing mandatory hijab, and in many cases have been subjected to physical and psychological harassment.

The Supreme National Security Council decided to suspend this law while “Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje”, the Head of the Iranian Judiciary, had stated that the Chastity and Hijab Law must be announced and implemented. Masoud Pezeshkian also said in the past two months regarding this law that there remain many questions and ambiguities for the executive branch in implementing this law.