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The new law has drawn strong criticism from Amnesty International, which warns that it criminalises peaceful dissent and curtails women’s rights
These new laws come two years after widespread protests followed the death of Mahsa Amini. (AP file photo)
Iran has introduced strict new laws that could see women facing the death penalty or up to 15 years in prison for defying mandatory hijab regulations. The new legislation, aimed at enforcing a “culture of chastity and hijab,” includes severe penalties for “improper dressing,” promoting nudity, or opposing the veil.
Under Article 60 of Iran’s new law, offenders could face fines, flogging, or lengthy prison sentences. Repeat offenders risk up to 15 years in prison or even execution for “corruption on earth.” Those accused of promoting these views to foreign media or organisations may be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison, with fines reaching up to £12,500.
Additionally, anyone attempting to intervene or prevent the arrest or harassment of women defying the law could also face imprisonment or fines, as per The Indian Express report.
Women in Iran have been required to cover their hair in public since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. These new laws come two years after widespread protests followed the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who died in police custody on September 16, 2022. She had been arrested by the morality police in Tehran for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code for women.
Her death sparked widespread protests across the country, resulting in hundreds of fatalities, including many security personnel. Thousands of protesters were detained during the unrest.
The new legislation has also drawn strong criticism from Amnesty International, which warns that it criminalises peaceful dissent and curtails women’s rights.
Iranian authorities have also announced plans to establish “hijab clinics” to address women defying the dress code in the counrty, which has provoked further anger.
