As Iran’s regime faces ongoing uncertainty over the implementation of its controversial mandatory hijab law, recent developments reveal both a determined push for enforcement and significant internal debates. Despite calls for postponement and revisions, the regime’s parliament has been coordinating with the State Security Forces to advance the law, signaling the regime’s attempt to reassert control amid fears of domestic unrest.
On October 19, the parliamentary Cultural Commission met with Ahmadreza Radan, commander of SSF, to prepare for the law’s enforcement. Spokesperson for the Cultural Commission, Ahmad Rastineh stated, “The commander of SSF confirmed full readiness to enforce the law once it is officially enacted.” He also mentioned “legal needs” that would have to be addressed, hinting at possible budgetary demands to facilitate the controversial law’s execution. “The Cultural Commission is prepared to address these needs through legal channels,” Rastineh added.
The government, however, appears to be navigating conflicting pressures. The state-run Arman-e-Emrouz newspaper recently reported that there is an ongoing request from the executive branch for a delay in implementing the law, aimed at “negotiating revisions and reconsidering certain aspects.” This highlights the internal rift between factions eager to enforce strict social controls and others wary of provoking nationwide unrest akin to the 2022 uprising, which was partly fueled by opposition to mandatory hijab enforcement.
Facing public backlash over its mandatory #hijab policy, the clerical regime in #Iran orchestrates elaborate festivals to feign popular backing for its oppressive measures. Discover what drives the regime's fear in this revealing expose. pic.twitter.com/OhagqDGBgM
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) May 9, 2024
The Guardian Council, which has approved the law after months of deliberation, emphasized its legal endorsement. Hadi Tahan Nazif, spokesperson for the Guardian Council, commented on the delays, saying, “There were several rounds of reviews between Parliament and the Guardian Council, and the law has now been validated to proceed. It is up to Parliament and the executive to decide how and when to implement it.”
The debate over the hijab law comes at a critical moment for Iran’s clerical leadership, which is struggling to maintain its authority amid escalating economic challenges and rising tensions on the regional front. Analysts suggest that the regime’s push to enforce stricter social controls, alongside an increase in executions and other repressive measures, is an attempt to keep the population in check. However, there is a significant risk that enforcing the hijab law could backfire, sparking a level of dissent reminiscent of the 2022 protests that swept across the country.
On September 13, 2024, the UN Fact-Finding Mission reported that Iran has intensified efforts to suppress women’s rights, marking the second anniversary of nationwide protests. The update emphasized that authorities are seeking to “crush remaining initiatives of women’s activism” through escalated repressive measures.
Following the adoption of the mandatory Hijab bill, #Iran’s freedom-loving women tell the Guardian Council, the mullahs’ supreme leader, and his president, Masoud Pezeshkian: No to the compulsory veil, No to compulsory religion, and no to the compulsory government
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) October 19, 2024
The regime’s approach to the hijab law has been marked by deliberate back-and-forth tactics, feeding news cycles with conflicting signals to maintain a constant scepter of intimidation over the public. While the law has been passed, its implementation remains uncertain, as key political players within the clerical dictatorship continue to negotiate and stall, reflecting not just internal divisions but the regime’s broader fragility. By keeping the issue in flux, the regime seeks to sustain a climate of fear, aware that enforcing the hijab law could trigger larger, more significant unrest.
