Iran suspends controversial new dress code law

After the arrest of famous Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi last week, the hijab debate became more widespread. without a hijab broadcasts a virtual concert on YouTube without any audience, external.

The concert went viral, and the arrest of Ahmadi and his bandmates caused widespread repercussions. Faced with a public outcry, the authorities released them the next day.

Tensions around the hijab remain high following nationwide protests in 2022 that resulted in the death of a young Kurdish woman in police custody after being detained for allegedly violating the dress code.

Over the past two years, many young Iranian women have taken off their hijabs in public in defiance of government authority.

Last week, more than 300 Iranian human rights activists, writers and journalists publicly condemned the new hijab law, calling it “illegal and unenforceable” and calling on Pezeshkian to keep his campaign promises.

Despite pressure from hardliners close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, many young people in Iran are not afraid to challenge the regime’s restrictions.

Pezeshkia’s supporters believe that the new hijab law will not deter young women from opposing it and may even make the situation worse.

However, supporters of the legislation criticized the National Security Council’s hesitancy and pressured the president to move forward, asking him to sign the legislation to pave the way for its implementation.

The decision to suspend its implementation shows that the government fears it could lead to another wave of mass protests like two years ago.