Iran implemented new restrictions and sanctions for violations of the country’s dress codes, Human Rights Watch (HRW) confirmed on Monday. The group calls for the international community to act against the “Hijab and Chastity” law .
Among the proposed restrictions, Article 49 of the law imposes severe fines against women who appear in public without properly wearing the hijab. Fines can go up to 500 million rials or USD 790. After four penalties, sanctions can include travel bans and prohibition of online activities for up to two years. The law also instates up to five years of prison for repeat offenses. HRW characterized the law as imposing “draconian” punishments.
The law was approved despite initial opposition from the new President Masoud Pezeshkian against strict enforcement of hijab during his campaign. Nahid Naghshbandi, acting Iran researcher at HRW, stated that with this law “the autocratic government is trying to silence women with even more repressive dress laws.” Other sanctions are posed against individuals accused of dressing “immodestly,” or behaviors that promote violations of hijab regulations online.
This law can hinder Iran’s obligations and responsibilities at an international level while posing a threat to human rights protection. In its concluding observations on the fourth periodic report of Iran in 2023, the UN Human Rights Committee had already voiced its concerns against this law. The Committee recommended Iran “repeal laws and policies that criminalize non-compliance with compulsory veiling,” which is the opposite of what happened. Furthermore, Iran is not a signatory of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), limiting its will to adopt further measures for the protection of women’s rights.
The government of former president Ebrahim Raisi proposed the bill on Protection of the Family through Promoting the Culture of Hijab and Chastity in September 2023. In September 2024, the Guardian Council approved this law.
In 2022, the nationwide Women, Life and Freedom protests broke out after the 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in custody after being arrested by Iranian morality police for alleged violation of mandatory dress codes. Iran has since then intensified the dress code enforcement and protest crackdown.
