In the streets of Iran, the number of women appearing in public without a hijab, defying the state's mandatory hijab rule, has significantly increased in recent years.
According to **Modern.az**, Iranian women journalists have informed Radio Farda's Persian bureau that appearing without a hijab has become commonplace in the streets of Tehran.
The turning point of the process was the protest actions that began in 2022 with the death of Mahsa Amini. The death of the young woman, who was detained for violating the hijab rule, while in police custody, led to widespread unrest across the country.
During those protests, women openly demonstrated their opposition to the religious leadership by burning their hijabs and speaking out in the streets.
Following the protests, the government initially attempted to further tighten hijab control. Parliament passed a new law titled “Hijab and Chastity,” which stipulated long-term imprisonment, high fines, and travel bans.
However, fearing an increase in discontent, the authorities suspended the implementation of this law by a decision of the Supreme National Security Council.
On October 3, Mohammad Reza Bahonar, a member of Iran's Expediency Discernment Council, told journalists that “the mandatory hijab law is currently not effectively enforced in the country.”
Although this statement caused dissatisfaction in conservative circles, it indicated that the real situation in the capital and major cities has already changed.
Twelve women interviewed by "Radio Farda" in various cities reported that the number of women without hijabs has sharply increased in both streets and public places over the past two years. Previously, women kept their headscarves in their bags to avoid encountering the “morality police,” but now they see no need for it:
Observers state that the processes have now become irreversible.
