🕒 Created · Updated

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian questions the effectiveness of using laws to force women to wear the hijab

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed skepticism regarding the government's ability to force women to wear the hijab through legislation alone. While hardline conservatives and clerics, such as Mohammad Javad Haj Ali Akbari, are demanding a return to strict enforcement against "public indecency," the administration has prioritized managing the ongoing conflict with the United States and economic issues. State media has begun highlighting closures of cafes and restaurants for failing to enforce the dress code, but many young women continue to defy the rules, often appearing in public without headscarves. President Masoud Pezeshkian noted that changing behavior is a cultural matter of belief rather than force, suggesting that officials should focus on local mosques and neighborhoods. Meanwhile, former MP Gholamali Jafarzadeh Imanabadi argued that the government should prioritize addressing inflation and the livelihoods of citizens over the mandatory hijab. The regime remains cautious about launching a full-scale crackdown during a time of existential struggle and economic crisis.

Sources