Iran Increases Crackdown on Women Without Headscarves, Targeting Businesses
TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian authorities are intensifying their efforts to enforce the mandatory headscarf for women, turning businesses into the new battleground. This crackdown comes ahead of the first anniversary of nationwide protests that erupted after the death of Mahsa Amini, who was in the custody of the country’s morality police. The subsequent crackdown by security forces resulted in numerous deaths and arrests.
In recent months, Iranian authorities had been lenient in enforcing the law on women covering their hair. However, as uncovered women became a common sight on Tehran streets, the government began raiding companies where employees or customers were seen without the headscarf. The parliament is even discussing a law that would impose harsher punishments on both the women and the businesses they frequent.
These developments have the potential to further fuel unrest in the country, especially as parliamentary elections approach and the Iranian economy struggles under international sanctions related to its nuclear program.
While some women like Parvaneh, a doctor who treated protesters injured during last year’s demonstrations, are willing to comply with the headscarf requirement to avoid penalties, the younger generation refuses to back down. For devout Muslim women, the head covering represents piety and modesty. In Iran, the hijab has also become a significant political symbol since its mandatory enforcement following the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
After Mahsa Amini’s death, the police hesitated to strictly enforce the dress code, likely to prevent further demonstrations and acts of defiance. However, the atmosphere has changed in recent weeks. President Ebrahim Raisi stated that the lack of hijab will definitely be put to an end.
Authorities have already started sending warning text messages to women spotted without the veil in cars, with around 1 million messages sent. Subsequently, approximately 2,000 cars were confiscated, and over 4,000 women were referred to prosecutors.
Further crackdowns expanded beyond the capital city of Tehran. Local health officials in the northern city of Lahaijan ordered hospitals and clinics to refuse service to uncovered women. In Damavand, prosecutors even ordered the arrest of a bank manager and a teller for serving a woman who was not wearing the hijab. Outdoor café seating was banned in Mashhad, a northeastern city, and there are calls to ban mixed-gender workplaces in Isfahan.
The entertainment industry is not spared from scrutiny either. Police have threatened to shut down film productions if there are women without headscarves working behind the scenes.
A new bill being discussed in Iran’s parliament could impose even harsher penalties on women. It proposes fines of up to $720 and prison sentences for those without the headscarf. The bill also seeks stricter gender segregation in schools, parks, hospitals, and other public places. Businesses with female staff and customers who do not wear the hijab could face fines of up to three months’ income, while offending celebrities may be banned from leaving the country or performing.
The bill would empower intelligence agencies and the Basij, the paramilitary force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, to confront women without hijabs. Hard-liners have long demanded the involvement of the Basij in the fight over the hijab.
Criticism of the proposed bill has already emerged. The current Minister for Cultural Heritage, Ezzeatollah Zarghami, warned that harsh sentences, such as compulsory morgue work, would only aggravate the problem instead of solving it.
Although the bill’s passing remains uncertain, prominent lawyer Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabei believes it would be meaningless since the majority of women do not believe in it.
The ongoing crackdown on women without headscarves poses a significant challenge for the Iranian government as it seeks to maintain control amid rising tensions. As the debate continues, Iranian society remains divided, with women’s rights activists advocating for greater freedoms while hard-liners emphasize the importance of adhering to Islamic principles.
