The legal commission of the mullahs’ parliament has so far examined and adopted 39 of the 70 articles of the Hijab and Chastity Bill, officially renamed “Supporting the Family through Promotion of the Culture of Chastity and Hijab” bill.
Mullah Naghdali, a member of the legal commission, told the semi-official Tasnim news agency, that the commission had examined and adopted 39 articles over the past two days which primarily deal with the obligations of various ministries and institutions to enforce the Hijab and Chastity bill. (The state-run Tasnim news agency, August 15, 2023)
Naghdali said the remaining articles after article 38, are more controversial and will take more time to examine.
Penalties for girls under 18
In the meantime, another MP, Hossein Jalali from Rafsanjan, told the open session of the mullahs’ parliament on August 15: “It is said that individuals under 18 will not be imprisoned. This is right, but it does not mean that they would not be punished in other ways. There are financial penalties, deprivation of social rights, etc. enumerated in the bill.”
Jalali added, “Anyone under 18 might not have a driving license, but they have passports, jobs, education, bank accounts, internet, and cellphones. Therefore, deprivation of social services and financial penalties will still be applicable.” (The state-run hamshahrionline.ir, August 15, 2023)
Hijab and Chastity Bill examined according to Article 85
The clerical regime’s parliament voted on Sunday, August 13, for the Hijab and Chastity bill to be examined by the Legal Commission instead of being debated in the parliament’s open floor, in accordance with Article 85 of the Constitution. The MPs explained, considering that 59 representatives had registered over 1600 amendments, the discussion of the bill in the open session is tantamount to its “non-approval,” since it would take a long time. While they needed to pass the bill as soon as possible.
The mullahs’ parliament voted 175 in favor, 49 against, and 5 abstentions for the bill to be finalized by the Legal Commission and passed to the Guardian Council for final approval and enforcement.
The laws adopted under Article 85, will be implemented on a “trial basis” for a period of time determined by the parliament and their final approval will be subject to the parliament’s decision.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, said in her tweet, “Excluding the debate over the inhuman hijab bill from the regressive parliament makes it evident that even Khamenei’s hand-picked legislative body is internally divided and apprehensive over the potential consequences of such repression and the escalating public outrage. Iranian young women, girls, and youth valiantly confront the regime’s corrupt and oppressive Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) at every turn and are determined to overthrow this criminal regime.”
Amanollah Gharaii Moghadam, a state-affiliated sociologist, acknowledged the explosive state of Iran’s society and warned that the bill will fail and lead to upheaval.
Moghadam stated, “Today, the level of dissatisfaction among the people is high. Besides the high cost of living, society has also undergone significant intellectual changes. This society will never return to the days before the passing of Mahsa Amini.” (The state-run Faraz Daily website, August 14, 2023)
