Iranian Police Disperse Sit-In Over Mandatory Hijab Law

Post by: Bandan Preet

Iranian police have broken up a sit-in protest that lasted for weeks. The protestors, mainly women wearing black full-body robes, had gathered outside the Iranian parliament building in Tehran. They were protesting for stricter rules that would force women to wear the hijab, a head covering, in public. This sit-in had been going on since last month.

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, women have been required by law to cover their hair in public. But over time, many women, especially in big cities like Tehran, have started to wear the hijab in a more relaxed way, sometimes pushing it back or not wearing it properly.

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The protestors were calling for a new law that would punish women who do not wear the hijab. This bill, passed by Iran's parliament in September 2023, would have brought harsher punishments, such as fines and even jail time, for women who refuse to wear the hijab. The bill also said there should be penalties for people who promote what the government considers "indecency" or "nudity."

However, the bill sparked a lot of debate in the country. It was not sent for final approval to the government, and it was eventually put on hold.

The protestors were told by the police to leave after being warned several times. Authorities said the sit-in was illegal and causing problems like roadblocks and traffic jams. Many of the protesters agreed to leave, but about 30 people resisted. A video shared by the government showed police officers trying to force the protesters to leave.

The protest took place for about 48 days, and the government considered it to be against the law. The bill, known as the "Law on Supporting the Family through the Promotion of the Culture of Chastity and Hijab," had been discussed after the death of Mahsa Amini. Mahsa was a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who died after being arrested by the police for allegedly breaking the rules about wearing the hijab. Her death led to widespread protests across the country.

Even though parliament passed the bill, it was put aside after government officials said it might cause big social problems. Fatemeh Mohajerani, a government spokeswoman, said in January that the bill was put on hold because it could lead to serious social issues.

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