Top Iranian security body to assess controversial Hijab Law before implementation

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has brought the Hijab Law to the attention of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), following widespread controversy surrounding the legislation, according to a statement by Ali Rabiei, an aide to the president.

Rabiei praised the president for addressing the law’s social repercussions and involving the SNSC in its oversight, Caliber.Az reports via an independent Iranian news source.

“Thanks to the president for placing the implementation of this law, considering its social consequences, on the agenda of the Supreme National Security Council,” he wrote on social media.

The Hijab Law, which requires women and girls to wear a hijab in public, has sparked significant debate due to its strict penalties for non-compliance. Days earlier, Rabiei cautioned that the law might backfire.

“These days, when I talk to any of the establishment’s loyalists from any spectrum, they believe that the Hijab and Chastity Law is impractical, and will lead to civil disobedience,” he warned.

Alireza Salimi, a member of the Iranian Parliament’s Presiding Board, confirmed that the SNSC Secretariat has recommended suspending the law’s enforcement, citing concerns over potential social unrest.

Salimi also revealed plans to introduce a revised bill to Parliament aimed at clarifying the ambiguities in the current legislation.

In a recent television interview, President Pezeshkian acknowledged the widespread questions and uncertainties surrounding the law’s enforcement. He stressed the importance of fostering dialogue and collaboration to ensure its effective implementation.

By Khagan Isayev