Iran imposes strict hijab laws; approves death penalty for offenders

The most extreme penalty, however, is reserved for those whose actions are deemed to constitute “corruption on Earth” under Article 286 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code.

By: Express Web Desk

December 11, 2024 11:00 PM IST

3 min read

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These developments follow the recent arrest of a female student in Iran, who staged a solo protest against harassment by stripping down to her underwear outside her university. (Express Archive)

Women in Iran could face the death penalty or up to 15 years in prison under new mandatory morality laws set to come into effect this week.

The legislation, aimed at enforcing the “culture of chastity and hijab,” introduces severe penalties for individuals accused of “promoting nudity, indecency, unveiling, or improper dressing.” Repeat offenders may face fines of up to $15,700, flogging, or imprisonment ranging from five to 15 years. These laws were approved by Iranian authorities earlier this month.

Article 37 of the new legislation further stipulates that individuals accused of promoting or advocating indecency, unveiling, or “improper dressing” to foreign entities, including international media and civil society organisations, could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and fined as much as £12,500.

The most extreme penalty, however, is reserved for those whose actions are deemed to constitute “corruption on Earth” under Article 286 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code. This provision allows for the death penalty, meaning women and girls who share videos of themselves unveiled with foreign media or engage in peaceful activism could potentially face execution.

Amnesty International has expressed grave concern over the implications of these laws, warning that they effectively criminalise peaceful dissent and advocacy for women’s rights. The organisation noted that the legislation appears to grant immunity to individuals acting under the guise of fulfilling their “religious duty” by enforcing compulsory veiling.

Furthermore, under Article 60 of the new law, anyone attempting to intervene or prevent the arrest or harassment of women and girls defying mandatory veiling could themselves face imprisonment or fines.

The law was enacted two years after nationwide protests erupted following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who had been detained for not wearing her hijab correctly.

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In the past two years, Iranian women have increasingly defied the strict dress code in public. Last month, videos surfaced of a young Iranian student removing her clothes down to her underwear in apparent protest against the regulations. The footage, which went viral on social media, reportedly led to her being taken to an undisclosed psychiatric hospital in Tehran.

Authorities have since announced plans to establish “hijab clinics” to address women defying the dress code, a move that has sparked further outrage.

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