What is the significance of the hijab in Iranian society?
After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, women in Iran were forced to wear hijabs. Following the revolution, the current Iranian government based its dress code on the Quran (Islam's sacred book) and Hadiths (sayings of the Prophet Mohammad).
Morality police in Iran enforce dress codes and patrol the streets in vans, arresting those who wear "inappropriate" clothing. In 1983, wearing the hijab was made a law for women. Since then, protests against the hijab have happened a few times. Recently, the number of protests has increased a lot in the country.
Why are there anti-hijab protests in Iran?
Many Iranian women wore the hijab as a personal decision before the revolution. However, women are now forced to wear the hijab. Disobeying this Islamic dress law can also result in beatings or jail. So, many people hate this rule.
The police say they only advise people to follow the rules, but they enforce the country's hijab laws on women. So, Iranian women are protesting and demanding their rights. Regular protests have started since 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini.
Who was Mahsa Amini, and how did her death spark protests?
On 13th September 2022, Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman, was arrested by Iran's morality police for not properly wearing her hijab. Her family says she was mistreated by the police and died in jail three days after being arrested. Protests began in Iran as details of her death came to be known.
Many women took off their hijabs and cut their hair. Protests have continued to this day. Men have joined the protests, making it one of the biggest threats to the Iranian government since the 1979 revolution. The authorities are worried about the protests. They are arresting the protestors, and a lot of them have been killed.
Is anybody doing anything about the protests in Iran?
Sweden, the European Union (EU), the United States of America (USA), and others have expressed their concern about the violence in Iran. Sweden has also demanded that those responsible for Mahsa Amini's death be punished.
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has formed a team to investigate the violence shown by Iranian officials against the protestors. Let’s hope the protestors don’t face any more harm and the government understands their problems.
