Iran’s National Security Council has postponed the implementation of a new hijab law, originally set for last Friday. The law proposed stricter penalties for women and girls not fully covering their hair, forearms, and lower legs, including fines, prison sentences up to 15 years, and mandatory reporting by businesses.
President Masoud Pezeshkian stated the law is “ambiguous and in need of reform.” He plans to review its provisions. During his campaign, Pezeshkian expressed disapproval of the government’s treatment of women regarding the hijab and promised to respect personal freedoms.
The law sparked domestic and international criticism. Human rights organizations like Amnesty International condemned it, accusing Iranian authorities of “seeking to entrench the already suffocating system of repression.” Former Vice-President for Women and Family Affairs, Masoumeh Ebtekar, called the law “an indictment of half the Iranian population.”
The arrest and subsequent release of singer Parastoo Ahmadi and her bandmates after performing online without hijabs further fueled public anger. This incident follows the 2022 protests ignited by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody after an alleged dress code violation. Since then, many young Iranian women have publicly defied hijab rules.
Over 300 Iranian activists, writers, and journalists signed a statement calling the proposed law “illegitimate and unenforceable,” and urged President Pezeshkian to uphold his campaign promises.
While some officials support the law, the delay suggests concern over potential renewed protests similar to those two years ago. Supporters of the president believe the law could escalate tensions and is unlikely to reduce defiance among younger Iranians.