Recent news circulating in Iranian media and social networks regarding the abolition of compulsory hijab has sparked public debate.
The reports state that wearing the hijab is no longer mandatory in Iran, and punitive measures will not be applied against those who violate this rule. The words of Mohammadreza Bahonar, a member of Iran's Expediency Discernment Council, are cited as the source of these reports. However, this information does not fully reflect reality.
Modern.az reports that Mohammadreza Bahonar stated in a press release that the implementation of the "Hijab and Chastity" law is not legally possible because the Supreme National Security Council has suspended the official announcement of the law.
According to him, fine and criminal measures based on this law are currently not being implemented, and the police should also be informed about this.
However, Bahonar's statement does not mean that the hijab has been completely abolished. Although the "Hijab and Chastity" law is not currently being enforced, Article 638 of the Islamic Penal Code, which is considered the main legal basis establishing the mandatory hijab in Iran, remains in force. This article defines not wearing the hijab in public places as "behavior contrary to public decency" and provides for administrative punitive measures.
It should be noted that the "Hijab and Chastity" law was adopted by parliament in 2023 and was expected to be approved in 2024. The law provides for strict sanctions for those who do not comply with hijab rules. These included mechanisms such as fines, imprisonment, travel bans, closure of workplaces, and even the creation of public surveillance systems. Although the law was presented with the aim of protecting public decency and moral norms, it had caused serious dissatisfaction both domestically and internationally. By decision of the Supreme National Security Council, the implementation of the law was suspended in the spring of 2025. Officials took this step to prevent an increase in public tension. The suspension of the law's application has temporarily made the implementation of new punitive measures impossible in the country.
However, Iran's Expediency Discernment Council is not a decision-making p on such matters. The Council resolves legal disputes arising between the parliament and Şura-ye Negəhbən and provides advisory recommendations to the Supreme Leader. Therefore, Bahonar's statement is not considered an official decision, but a personal commentary on the current legal situation.
Bahonar's remarks have not been met with a unanimous reception within the country. While reformist circles viewed this as a sign of social change, conservative forces sharply criticized these views. Hossein Shariatmadari, editor-in-chief of the "Kayhan" newspaper, called Bahonar's statement "contrary to the fundamental principles of the Islamic Republic" and emphasized that the hijab is "the ideological pillar of the regime."
In conclusion, the implementation of the "Hijab and Chastity" law has been suspended, but the legal obligation of the hijab still exists in legislation. That is, new fine mechanisms are not operational, but the old law is still in force.
