Iran introduces controversial shame law with stricter clothing regulations

Iran introduces controversial shame law with stricter clothing regulations

The Iranian Parliament has issued a strict new law on clothing that significantly exacerbates the existing clothing regulations. These regulations have triggered nationwide protests and represent a serious challenge for the stability of the regime.

new law on "chastity and to hijab"

According to the protests against the strict clothing regulations in Iran two years ago, a new law on "chastity and hijab" was passed by the Hardlinestian parliament on Sunday and was approved by the guardian council, which checked legal provisions for its compatibility with the constitution and Islamic law. So that the law comes into force, it must now be signed by the President.

criticism by President Pezeshkian

President Masoud Pezeshkian, who criticized the clothing regulations and was elected on a reformist platform last year, expressed his resistance to the law. This could lead to a possible conflict with powerful conservatives if he tries to oppose the law. Its signing of the law is largely ceremony, so it has little scope to block the law. In a contribution to X, he said: "In my opinion, the hijab law that I have to implement is vague. We should not do anything that disturbs the harmony and empathy of society. We have to speak and interact on the topic."

strict punishments for violations

The law provides for a three-year test phase for a number of political measures that introduce new, harder punishments for violations of Hijab regulations and improper clothing for both men and women. Inappropriate clothing is defined in different ways, from nudity to clothing that shows the body inappropriately. For women, this includes wearing close clothing and outfits that expose the body below the neck, over the ankles and the forearms. For men, every exposure below the chest and above the knee and the exposure of the shoulders are prohibited.

miscalculation of the public mood

According to Sina Toossi, a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy in Washington, DC, there is a risk that the law will repeat the mistakes of the former Iranian government, which was confronted with protests against such policies in 2022 months. "This decision reflects a miscalculation of the public mood and will probably not achieve the government's declared goals to preserve traditional social norms. Instead, it could further destabilize the already fragile social structure," he told CNN.

regulation of digital rooms and monitoring

Another important aspect of the law is the regulation of digital spaces. Leader and restrictions for internet activities are introduced in connection with the law, and social media platforms are obliged to monitor and remove content that the government considers inappropriate. Influencies and public persons who were particularly loud during the protests will also expect strict punishments for the promotion of inappropriate clothing or the mocking of the Hijab laws. The penalties for violations could include fines of up to 5 % of the total assets and travel bans.

earlier protests and their consequences

The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the care of the Iranian moral police led to some of the greatest protests that the country had seen for decades at the end of 2022. According to the United Nations, over 500 people were killed during the subsequent government suppression.

resistance to the new law

The law is expected to come into force about two weeks after the approval by the guardian council, on December 13th. Pezeshkian led his election campaign, which directed the mandatory hijab, the strict clothing regulations of the Raisi era and the nationwide protests, with the promise to abolish the moral police.

political power struggle in Iran

President Pezeshkian, as Mortazavi explains, stands in front of a "stony way", since the law prepares the stage for a power struggle between the hardlines powers in the unectedy bodies and the parliament on the one hand and the government as well as the elected president on the other. In July, during a presidential debate, Pezeshkian said with regard to the regime: "Just as you could not violently remove the Hijabs from the minds of women in the past.

limited options for action for the president

Although the President has no real veto might and is obliged to approve all parliamentary decisions, he could refuse or delay the signing in order to gain benevolence among people. However, Pezeshkian's opportunities to prevent the new law are limited, according to TOSSI: “His possibilities include appealing to the top leader or applying for the transfer of the law to the Expediency Council for renewed arbitration. Alternatively, he could strive for an intervention on the highest National Security Council. Ayatollah Khamenei. "