Iranian press review: New hijab law faces revived opposition
Criticism mounts as MP unveils details of proposed hijab legislation
A recent announcement concerning the details of a draft law on Islamic hijab in Iran's ultra-conservative-dominated parliament has drawn severe criticism, with many accusing the establishment of infringing upon citizens' basic rights through headscarf-related regulations.
Last Friday, after more than a year of deliberations in Iran's parliament and in the powerful Guardian Council, conservative lawmaker Amir Hossein Bankipour stated that the authorities would automatically deduct 30m Iranian rials (around $713) from the bank accounts of those who fail to comply with the obligatory Islamic hijab law.
Since the death of 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman Mahsa Amini in the custody of the so-called morality police in 2022, the hijab law has been a focal point of political unrest, with many Iranian women refusing to wear headscarves in public.
Bankipour's remarks sparked severe criticism, coming just a week after the conservatives' parliamentary victory in an election with a record low turnout.
The reformist Etemad daily, in an article under the headline "The radicals’ slap in the face of social rights" argued that the new announcement revealed the new parliament's intention to pass "extreme" regulations.
'The right-wing radicals will continue to pursue their extreme agendas without worrying about public reactions'
- Etemad daily
"The right-wing radicals will continue to pursue their extreme agendas without worrying about public reactions, and this decision is the first sign of entering this new era," said the paper.
Another reformist daily, Shargh, also highlighted the irony of unveiling the new details on International Women’s Day.
Shargh also reflected the opinions of lawyers such as Mohammad Saleh Noghrehkar, who challenged the law, stating that the new draft law would undermine the rule of law in the country.
"[This law] disregards principles and standards of fair proceedings and the rule of law, imposing criminal actions or fines without due consideration of evidence or grounds for verifying alleged criminal activity. From this perspective, legal experts will likely challenge this law," he stated.
Imprisoned activist prosecuted for letters from prison
Ahmadreza Haeri, a Kurdish political activist currently serving a three-year and eight-month sentence in Qezel Hesar prison, has been summoned to the Islamic Revolutionary Court because of letters he wrote about the prison's conditions, Persian media abroad reported.
According to these reports, Haeri faced the court over letters addressing the torture of political prisoners, the execution of dissidents, and his opposition to the controlled elections on 1 March.
In one letter about the elections, he asserted that the voice of the people was not Iranian legislators but instead dissidents executed by the establishment.
"The voice of the nation is in prison and confinement, under house arrest - a voice whose courage will multiply, eventually regaining the right to determine its own destiny," he added.
In another letter, he detailed his observations of the final nights of prisoners facing the death penalty and their transfer to the hanging centre.
This is the second time the activist has faced new charges while serving his sentence. In July, also for writing letters about the situation of prisoners, he was accused of "spreading lies" and received an additional three-month sentence.
Conservatives’ victory prompts calls for rational governance
Former officials from across the political spectrum in Iran have urged newly elected legislators to embrace logic and formulate the country’s policies based on reasoned judgment, as reported by local media a few days after the ultra-conservative bloc secured the majority of seats in the 1 March elections.
In a series of articles, the pro-reformist daily Ham Mihan presented the viewpoints of analysts and former politicians on the future of the country's political landscape after elections in which all critical candidates were barred from participating.
'Do not interpret based on our own wishes and desires. Exaggeration is delusion. The right path is one of moderation'
- Ali Akbar Salehi
According to the daily, Ali Akbar Salehi, former director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran during the hardline presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, cautioned conservative legislators against making radical decisions.
“Do not interpret based on our own wishes and desires. Exaggeration is delusion. The right path is one of moderation,” Salehi was quoted as saying by Ham Mihan.
Ali Larijani, a former commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and a conservative politician, advised officials against overstating revolutionary values, urging them to follow a logical approach.
“Some think that being revolutionary is a self-sufficient attribute and that they do not need a rational justification for political actions. Going beyond rationality is perilous for the Islamic revolution. With this mindset, the progressive movement of the revolution is hindered and immobilised,” he said.
* Iranian press review is a digest of news reports not independently verified by Middle East Eye
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