They Tried to Force the Hijab. Iranian Women Said No.
The Hijab Struggle in Iran: A Simple Guide to What’s Happening Right Now
The Big Picture
Imagine a country where what you wear on your head becomes a symbol of a much bigger fight. That’s exactly what’s happening in Iran right now. The hijab (a headscarf worn by some Muslim women) has become a cultural faultline—a deep crack in society—that keeps reappearing, especially during times of crisis.
Important Point: This isn’t just about clothing. It’s about freedom, control, and who gets to decide how people live their daily lives.
How We Got Here: A Quick Timeline
- 1979 Revolution: After the revolution, the new Islamic government made wearing the hijab mandatory for all women in public.
- September 2022: Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman, died in police custody after being arrested for "improper hijab." Her death sparked the massive "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests across Iran and the world.
- 2023–2024: The government cracked down hard. A new, stricter law was passed in 2024 with harsher penalties and high-tech surveillance, but it was paused by the Supreme National Security Council.
- 2025 (Recent Months): Amid a conflict with the US and a leadership shift, enforcement relaxed. Unveiled women were even seen at pro-government events.
- Right Now (Mid-2025): Hardliners are pushing back hard, closing businesses and arresting celebrities, but millions of women are still saying "no."
Why Is This Flare-Up Happening Now?
The "Pressure Cooker" Effect
Iran is dealing with multiple crises at once:
- War/Conflict: Tensions and direct conflict with the United States and Israel.
- Economic Crisis: Crushing inflation and poverty affecting daily life.
- Leadership Transition: A behind-the-scenes reorganization of the security apparatus under Mojtaba Khamenei (the Supreme Leader’s son).
The result? The government has "bigger fish to fry," so they eased up on the hijab. But hardliners (conservative clerics and politicians) hate this. They see unveiled women as "public nudity" and a sign of moral decay that will destroy the nation from within—more dangerous than foreign enemies.
The Two Sides of the Street
Side A: The Hardliners (The "Enforcers")
Who: Conservative clerics, the Kayhan newspaper editor, paramilitary groups (Basij), some prosecutors.
What they want: Strict, immediate, total enforcement.
Their Tools:
- Closing Businesses: Cafes, restaurants, and boutiques shut down for "failure to observe Islamic decency" or "unveiling." Example: 7+ cafes closed in Tehran in one day (July 19); 10 in South Khorasan province.
- Vague Laws: Using terms like "violation of norms," "violation of modesty," and "unconventional clothing" to justify arrests.
- Celebrity Punishment: Singer Parastoo Ahmadi sentenced to 74 lashes and a 2-year travel ban for performing without a hijab and with bare shoulders on YouTube.
- Propaganda: State TV shows ("Park Way"), Friday prayer sermons, and rallies portraying unveiled women as disloyal or even "soldiers for Netanyahu" (Israel’s PM).
Side B: The Women (The "Resisters")
Who: Young women, university students, working professionals, even older generations.
What they do: Open, daily defiance.
Their Actions:
- "Motorcycle Girls": Convoys of women riding scooters in Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz—wearing helmets but no headscarves. (The govt promised licenses for women to ride motorbikes but hasn’t delivered).
- Everyday Dress: Crop tops, shorts, loose hair in major cities like Tehran.
- Social Media: Posting videos and photos openly challenging the rules.
- Voices: "We’re the motorcycle girls of Shiraz! Shiraz girls, let’s go!"
The Surprising Voice: The President Himself
President Masoud Pezeshkian (a reformist) has openly questioned the hardline approach:
"The cleric mentioned hijab… Well, there are neighborhoods, there are mosques – go and work on it there! Can you really change people’s behavior through laws?"
"Does it mean I should force [my daughter]?! Changing behavior is a cultural matter; it’s about belief. You can’t create belief in people through force."
Even a former MP and unofficial media outlets are criticizing the crackdown as a "provocation to a war-weary public" and a distraction from inflation and livelihoods.
The Legal Maze (Simplified)
| Law / Article | What It Says | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Article 638 (Islamic Penal Code) | Criminalizes appearing in public without "Islamic hijab." Doesn’t define exactly what that is. | Active (Used for decades) |
| 2024 "Chastity and Hijab" Law | Much harsher: escalating fines, travel bans, internet cutoff, AI surveillance, business closure, potential exile. | PAUSED (Halted by Supreme National Security Council) |
Critical Insight: The vagueness of "Islamic hijab" lets authorities target almost any outfit they dislike. The 2024 law shows exactly how far the state wants to go (total digital + physical surveillance), but they froze it—likely fearing another explosion like 2022.
A Witness from the Ground
A Tehran woman in her 60s told CNN by phone:
"They still don’t dare say anything to people on the street. Girls in Tehran are out and about wearing crop tops, shorts, and all kinds of clothes, and headscarves are practically no longer a thing."
"I don’t think they can make these girls wear headscarves again. But then again, that’s also what we thought when the revolution happened. We never thought they would be able to force us to wear them, but in the end, they did."
This captures the tension perfectly: Defiance is winning today, but the memory of past defeat looms large.
Summary: The Standoff
| Factor | Current Reality |
|---|---|
| Government Priority | Survival (War, Economy, Succession) > Hijab Enforcement (for now) |
| Hardliner Pressure | MAXIMUM (Business closures, celebrity trials, propaganda, legal threats) |
| Women’s Resistance | MASSIVE & NORMALIZED (Open unveiling, motorbike convoys, social media) |
| Legal Framework | Old vague law active; New draconian law frozen but not dead |
| President’s Stance | Skeptical of force, emphasizes culture over coercion |
| Risk of Explosion | HIGH – One spark (arrest, death) could reignite 2022-scale protests |
The regime is walking a tightrope: Crack down too hard → risk revolution. Don’t crack down → lose ideological legitimacy & hardliner support.
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Is the hijab completely optional in Iran right now?
No. The law (Article 638) still exists. Police can still stop women. Businesses can be closed. Celebrities are being punished. But on the street, in daily life, millions of women are ignoring it, and the state is mostly looking the other way—for now.
Why did the government pause the super-strict 2024 law?
Fear. The Supreme National Security Council (top security body) likely realized implementing it—AI cameras everywhere, instant fines, travel bans—would require a massive police state apparatus and could trigger immediate, uncontrollable uprising, especially with the country already on a war footing.
What happens to businesses that don’t enforce hijab?
They get shut down. Prosecutors order closures for "failure to observe Islamic decency" or "unveiling." It’s a way to outsource enforcement to cafe owners and shopkeepers—making them the "hijab police."
Are men affected by dress codes too?
Yes, but differently. Men are banned from wearing shorts, sleeveless shirts, "Western" hairstyles, and tight clothes in public. Enforcement exists but is far less intense, systematic, and politicized than for women. The hijab is the flagship symbol of the Islamic Republic’s identity.
Could this lead to another big protest movement like 2022?
Absolutely. All the ingredients are there: deep grievance, economic suffering, a trigger issue (hijab), organized resistance (motorcycle girls, social media), and a regime divided on how to handle it. The 60-year-old woman’s warning—"we never thought they could force us, but they did"—shows the fear of regression is real and potent.
Final Thought
The hijab in Iran is the visible seam where the state’s power meets the people’s will. Right now, the seam is stretching. Women are pulling one way (freedom, normal life), hardliners are pulling the other (control, ideology), and the government is stuck in the middle trying not to tear the fabric of the nation apart—while the country burns with war and poverty.
What happens next depends on who blinks first: the women on scooters, or the men with the closure orders and lashes.