Iran has decided to pause the implementation of a stricter hijab law. Shahram Dabiri, the vice president in charge of parliamentary affairs, announced the decision on Tuesday.
“It was decided that this law will not be referred to the government for now. The decision was reached by top executive, legislative and judiciary bodies,” Dabiri said, as quoted by the Associated Press. He further explained, “At the moment, it is not feasible to implement this bill.”
Relief for the President
Consequently, this decision provides temporary relief to Iran’s pro-reformist President, Masoud Pezeshkian. Previously, he had criticized the bill, describing it as filled with “many questions and ambiguities.”
Under Iranian law, any bill passed by Parliament must be approved by the President within five days. Subsequently, the law comes into effect after 15 days. However, the President does not have the authority to veto such bills.
Key Provisions of the Bill
Notably, Iran’s Parliament approved the controversial bill in September 2023. It introduced severe penalties targeting women and others who violated hijab mandates.
The proposed penalties included:
- A fine of $800 for a first offense.
- A fine of $1,500 for a second offense.
- Up to 15 years in prison for repeated violations.
- Celebrities could lose 8% of their net worth.
- Businesses could face fines or closure for serving uncovered women.
Moreover, the bill allowed foreign nationals to work as informers, reporting women who failed to wear a hijab. Additionally, business owners and taxi drivers who did not report uncovered women would face monetary fines.
For now, the law has been put on hold. However, its future remains uncertain as debates continue over its practicality and fairness.