The Newly Approved Hijab Bill Amounts to Gender Apartheid
Hello and welcome to this episode of the NCRI Women’s Committee podcasts. In this episode, we’re going to discuss the controversial new hijab bill, which many are calling a violation of Iranian women’s fundamental human rights.
This bill, which has stirred both domestic and international outrage, was actually approved by the Guardian Council about a month ago. One of the parliament members had already announced it back on September 17, but the government still hasn’t moved forward with its implementation. Then, just recently on October 19, the Guardian Council’s spokesperson again confirmed at a news conference that the bill is officially approved.
So, let’s start by outlining the bill. The bill enforces stricter penalties on women who refuse to comply with the mandatory hijab. Can you explain what this bill entails?
Yes, the new hijab bill turns the regime’s repressive hijab regulations into law, with a range of punishments including fines, prison sentences, and restrictions on education and employment for women who don’t comply with the mandatory dress code. This also extends to banning services to unveiled women and even implementing gender segregation in parks, hospitals, and universities.
That’s an alarming level of control. One point of contention is the illegal implementation of the law before it was even approved. For instance, there have been reports of the morality police’s brutal enforcement months before the bill’s passage. What’s the legal basis for that?
Interestingly, none of these actions have a legal basis. The regime’s own criminology experts have stated that impounding cars, sealing businesses, and detaining women for hijab violations are illegal. The State Security Force (SSF) doesn’t have the authority to arrest women or hold them in police stations for such infractions.
Here’s a tough question: If the regime knows its actions are illegal, why do you think they continue to push these harsh measures?
That’s a critical question. It seems the regime is using the hijab issue to distract from deeper societal problems. Many citizens are questioning why the government is focusing on hijab enforcement amid unprecedented inflation, the collapse of the rial, and the threat of social uprisings. It’s a tactic to divert attention and assert control, especially over women who have become the symbol of resistance.
Speaking of resistance, what has been the public reaction?
Public reaction has been overwhelmingly negative. The timing of the law’s approval was also symbolic—just a year after the death of Zhina Mahsa Amini, which ignited the 2022 protests. Two years on, women continue to reject the compulsory veil. And the government is aware that pushing this law too hard could spark another uprising, which is why there’s been hesitation to officially implement it, one month after its approval by the Guardian Council.
Yet, despite this pushback, the regime continues. Do you think the international community has any real leverage here?
The UN has condemned the bill, calling it gender apartheid. But we need more global outcry. And I’m sure it’ll have an impact since the regime is in a really weak point.
Some argue that enforcing hijab is part of preserving Iran’s cultural and religious values. Can we completely dismiss that perspective?
It’s an important point. Iran’s government often frames this as protecting moral and religious values. But there’s a huge difference between promoting cultural values and criminalizing dissent. When women are imprisoned, banned from jobs, or even beaten for not wearing a veil, it crosses into human rights violations. Cultural preservation doesn’t require violence or coercion.
Actually, even many women who personally choose to wear the veil are against the regime’s harsh treatment of those who decide otherwise.
Absolutely. And this brings us to the broader implications. We’re not just talking about dress codes here—this law marginalizes women from public life entirely, doesn’t it?
Exactly. It criminalizes women who refuse to wear the hijab, restricting their access to education, jobs, and basic services. Article 32 of the bill even mandates that women must adhere to hijab rules not only in public but also in virtual spaces. This goes far beyond enforcing a dress code—it’s a direct assault on women’s autonomy and their ability to exist freely in society.
So, where does this leave us? The new hijab bill is more than just a legal mandate—it’s a tool in the regime’s broader strategy to control women, who are the true changemakers in Iran. They’ve been at the forefront of the uprisings and major protests over the past years. What’s your take on that?
Exactly. It’s a pivotal moment for women’s rights, and really for human rights as a whole, in Iran. I completely agree—the new bill is definitely a way to push women to the margins, especially those who refuse to comply with the mandatory hijab. But we also have to recognize that this crackdown is happening alongside a rise in executions. In just the past three months since Pezeshkian took office, over 300 people, including 13 women, have been executed.
Yeah, this wave of death penalties is a tragic escalation, even compared to the regime’s record under Ebrahim Raisi—the mass-murdering president who died in a helicopter crash just this past May!
You’re absolutely right. This tragic escalation, along with the increased pressure on women, is the regime’s desperate attempt to control a restless and deeply dissatisfied society in Iran. We’re likely to see some significant developments in the coming weeks and months.
We’ll keep a close eye on this situation as it unfolds. Thanks for joining us today—we hope this conversation has shed some light on the challenges Iranian women are facing under the new hijab law. For more information, head over to our website at wncri.org. We look forward to having you with us again in the next episode. Until then, stay informed, stay curious, and take care.
