Mandatory Hijab Sparks First Clash Between Pezeshkian and Judiciary

Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, the head of the Islamic Republic's Supreme Court, has sparked controversy once again over the mandatory hijab and his defense of the notorious Morality Police.

Montazeri called for action against a journalist who had questioned President Masoud Pezeshkian about the Morality Police during the first press conference of the new president.

Speaking at the Supreme Court's criminal prosecution panel, Montazeri said: "Yesterday, a woman with improper dress mocked the Morality Police as soon as she took the podium, and Mr. President responded by asking if the Morality Police was still active and bothering her. He promised to address this, but if action is to be taken against the Morality Police, then the improper hijab of that person should also be dealt with. Values should not be violated."

Maryam Shabani, a journalist for Andishe Puya magazine, told the president, "To get here, I took many shortcuts and back alleys to avoid getting stopped by the Morality Police."

In response, the president laughed and said, "Are they still bothering you? That wasn’t supposed to happen."

Shabani’s question was linked to Pezeshkian's earlier criticism of the "Noor Plan" and the Morality Police during his presidential campaign. He had emphasized the need for children’s "education" over police measures, calling the Noor a "dark plan."

Since April 13, Iran's law enforcement agencies have intensified the enforcement of hijab regulations under the national action plan "Noor."

Across Iran, there have been numerous reports of women being arrested and subjected to the use of force due to perceived violations of dress codes.

Users across social networks are participating in a spontaneous campaign using the hashtag "war against women" to document their experiences and observations regarding the government's crackdown on opponents of the mandatory hijab.

Shabani's question and Pezeshkian's response led to reactions from supporters of the mandatory hijab.

Alireza Taghvania, a hardline media activist, responded with anti-feminist remarks targeting Shabani and her question.

Ali Asghar Shafiyan, director of the Insaf News website and a media figure close to the clerical establishment, posted a picture of Shabani, questioning her statements about her hijab, asking, "Is it true that someone with this much hijab gets stopped by the Morality Police?"

The most serious reaction came from Montazeri. He called for action against the female journalist who questioned the president and expected Pezeshkian to take a "right stance" on the Morality Police during live TV broadcasts.

An hour after Montazeri's remarks were published, state news agencies censored them. ISNA and Mizan removed the sections related to the Morality Police and Montazeri's criticism of Pezeshkian. Meanwhile, Fars and Tasnim news agencies, which are affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, published the full statements.

However, IRNA, the official news agency of the Islamic Republic, denied Montazeri's remarks and claimed: "The statements attributed to the head of the Supreme Court criticizing the president have not been published on the Judiciary news agency or the Supreme Court’s website."

This isn’t the first time Mohammad Jafar Montazeri has sparked controversy over the mandatory hijab. In 2022, during a meeting, he responded to an attendee’s question about the disbandment of the Morality Police by saying, "The Morality Police has nothing to do with the judiciary, and it was abolished by the same authority that created it."

These remarks quickly spread through international media. However, after the suppression of the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests, the white vans returned to the streets, albeit under different names and forms.

Montazeri last year called the "bad hijab" issue a "red line" for the Islamic Republic. He also said that both the judiciary and the police would continue their efforts to combat what he called "law-breaking behavior." In another speech, Montazeri framed the hijab issue as a battleground for resisting the spread of Western culture in Iran.

Despite the president's assurances, reports from Tehran and other cities indicate that law enforcement officers remained stationed in key locations like Tajrish, Valiasr, and Vanak squares in Tehran, as well as Chaharbagh Street in Isfahan and Shiraz, continuing to target women refusing to wear a headscarf.

A day after the president's promises to "follow up," the situation remained unchanged. The reality is that the government appears incapable of withdrawing the Hijab and Chastity Bill.

The Guardian Council of the Islamic Republic approved the controversial draft law imposing more restrictions on the public appearance of Iranians on Wednesday.

The hardline council has approved the controversial new bill of "Hijab and Chastity," according to MP Moussa Ghazanfarabadi.

The 12-member Guardian Council, responsible for interpreting the constitution and supervising elections, wields significant influence by ensuring all laws and policies align with Islamic principles and the constitution.

MP Ghazanfarabadi said the Guardian Council has approved the same principles that the parliament initially proposed.

The bill will now be sent back to parliament for formal approval to become law.

It had previously faced objections, particularly regarding articles 47 to 49, which discussed the extent of punishments for violations.

The bill, presented to parliament on May 24 by the government of Ebrahim Raisi, outlines severe penalties for women who violate mandatory headscarf rules.

Non-compliance with the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code is deemed "nudity." Offenders could face fines up to 8 million tomans ($150), with the fines being doubled if not paid within a month. They could also lose their jobs and be banned from social media activities for up to a year.