Iran delays controversial hijab law amid growing backlash

Iran has decided to delay the enforcement of the controversial "hijab and chastity law," which was supposed to be enforced starting Friday. 

This decision came after strong criticism and backlash from both the public and human rights groups. 

President Massoud Pezeshkian called the law "ambiguous and in need of reform" and suggested that the government would need to reconsider its details before moving forward.

The law, which would impose tougher punishments on women and girls who don’t cover their hair, forearms, or lower legs, had been widely criticized. 

It was meant to strengthen strict dress codes that have been enforced in Iran for years, but these codes have often sparked protests in the past. 

If the law had gone into effect, people who repeatedly violated the dress code or mocked it could have faced heavier fines or long prison sentences of up to 15 years. 

It also required businesses to report anyone who broke the rules.

Human rights organizations had raised alarms about the law. Amnesty International warned that the Iranian authorities were aiming to tighten their grip on the country by “entrenching the already suffocating system of repression.”

During his presidential campaign in July, Pezeshkian had openly criticized the harsh treatment of Iranian women over the hijab issue. 

He promised not to interfere in their personal lives, a promise that resonated with many young Iranians who were frustrated by the government‍‍`s tight control over their choices.

Masoumeh Ebtekar, a former vice president for women and family affairs, also spoke out against the law, calling it "an indictment of half the Iranian population."

The controversy surrounding the hijab has grown since the tragic death of Mahsa “Zhina” Amini in 2022. She died in police custody after being detained for allegedly not wearing the hijab correctly. 

Her death sparked nationwide protests, and in the two years since, many young Iranian women have taken to publicly removing their hijabs as a form of defiance against the government.

Recently, more than 300 Iranian activists, writers, and journalists condemned the new law, calling it "illegitimate and unenforceable." 

They urged Pezeshkian to keep his campaign promises and abandon the law. 

Despite pressure from conservative factions close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, many younger Iranians seem determined to challenge the regime‍‍`s restrictions.

Some supporters of Pezeshkian believe the law would only encourage more women to defy it and could make things worse. 

But those in favor of the law have pushed back, criticizing the president’s delay and demanding he move forward with its enforcement.

By delaying the law, the government appears worried that it could spark another wave of protests like the ones seen two years ago.