The “Protection of the Family through Promoting the Culture of Hijab and Chastity” law uses existing measures to enforce mandatory veiling of women and imposes severe penalties, such as fines and up to 10 years in prison for refusing to wear the veil in public environments. Punishments for violators also include restrictions on employment and educational opportunities. The new law consists of 71 articles that drastically increase penalties for activism against compulsory hijab (article 36), including long-term imprisonment. The new law also expands the authority of the Intelligence Ministry, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, police, and judiciary to identify and prosecute violations in all public spaces including social media realm.
Compiled from: “Iran: New Hijab Law Adds Restrictions and Punishments,“Human Rights Watch, Oct. 14, 2024.