Iranian police not to force teenagers to wear hijab, MP says

Iranian parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said law enforcement officials will not detain or bring the under-18 female citizens to a police station for not wearing hijab.

He made the statement in response to a question from a representative of one of the urban districts of East Azerbaijan Province, TASS reports.

"According to the hijab bill, no girl under 18 will be taken to a police station," ISNA news agency quoted him as saying.

“Claims that minors will be detained and taken to the police [for not complying with hijab norms] are complete lies."

On July 16, Tasnim News Agency reported that Iranian police began organizing car and foot patrols to ensure that all women strictly observe the rules of wearing the hijab.

According to the Iranian penal code, women who do not comply with the headscarf norms face imprisonment from 10 days to two months in addition to fines.

In addition, the violators of hijab may be subject to additional administrative measures, such as dismissal from the civil service, exile, a ban on leaving the country and contacts with opposition organizations, and confiscation of property. Even more serious punishment awaits those who persuade and encourage others not to wear the hijab: they may be sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 1 to 10 years.