Hijab Row: ‘Former Speaker Ali Larijani warns against ‘rigid response’ Iran’s women-led fierce protests against Hijab-Law are already a month-long, and the first voices of dissent have started to appear among the country’s political elites. Prominent Conservative Politician Ali Larijani has strongly disagreed with the actions taken by administrative authorities and called for a review of the enforcement of compulsory Hijab-Law, besides, acknowledging that the protests have deep political roots, and are not simply Israeli or US-sponsored stirs.
The call for restraint came from Ali Larijani, a former speaker of the Iranian parliament and an immaculate government figure. Nevertheless, his tone was in total contrast with the unrelenting line adopted by Supreme Commander Ayatollah Ali Khamanei, security forces as well as obnoxious efforts to undermine the credibility of the family of the 22-year-old Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini, whose death in morality police custody led to widespread protests across the country.
While protestors called for a mass rally in Tehran on Wednesday, many shops remained closed in solidarity with the protest and in dissent against the present regime, in the Kurdish towns of Sanandaj, Saqez, Bukan and Dehgolan. Meanwhile, a demonstration led by the Tehran Bar Association was trampled by the security forces.
In an extensive interview with one of the largest Iranian news sites, Larijani warned that radicalism in enforcing social traditions leads to extremist reactions only.’The Hijab has a cultural solution, it does not need decrees and referendums’. He appreciated the services of the police force and Basij (paramilitary militia) but reiterated that the onus to enforce the Hijab-practice should not be assigned to them.
When cultural phenomena becomes widespread, rigid suppression is not the remedy – Larijani
He added “Do not doubt that when a cultural phenomenon becomes widespread, rigid and inflexible response to it is not the remedy. The young people who have hit the streets are our children. In a family, if a child commits a crime, they try to guide him to the right path, the society needs more tolerance”.
Larijani pointed out that during the period of the Shah’s rule prior to 1979, the Hijab was not encouraged, but many people wore Hijab of their own free will.
“Islamic government means that people manage their own affairs. It is the same in terms of social justice. If the affairs are managed by the people, their talents will flourish.
“The problem is that if in a society, young people do not implement one of the Sharia rulings correctly from an intellectual and social point of view, and this is not 100% wrong.”
He also rejected the widely promoted theory that Iran’s Islamic society may crumble the way that Andalusia – according to some scholars – fell into Christianity in the 15th century due to the removal of the requirement to wear the Hijab.
He said that in some Islamic societies, “Hijab rules are more rigid than ours. Is there less corruption in them? No, it was more hidden.”
But in a way the one-dimensional harsh line of the government is not in agreement with collective principles and opinions, Larijani broke a long period of silence to question excessive state enforcement of the Hijab, the issue that may have led to Amini’s death.
Larijani the frontrunner was barred from standing for the Presidency
Larijani has been a central figure in Iranian politics for decades. He was barred from standing for the presidency last year ostensibly because the guardian council deemed him unqualified, but in reality, he posed a real threat to the winner, Ebrahim Raisi, the candidate Supreme Commander Ayatollah Ali Khamanei.
Iran Human Rights Centre, Oslo claims more than 200 deaths
The Iran Human Rights centre, based in Oslo, claimed that the death toll had surpassed 200. A renowned political reformist, Mostafa Tajzadeh, was also sentenced to eight years in prison for collusion with others against the system. Ali Salehi, prosecutor general in Tehran, said 60 indictments have been issued against rioters in Tehran only.
Hijab-Law in Iran and its history
From 1941 to 1979 there was no law that instructed women what to wear, but many women still wore headscarves either as a statement against the monarchy or because their choices were restricted by patriarchal values such as namus (honour) and the strict control of male members of the family.
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Islamic revolution introduced the idea of Hijab-Law. On March 8 1979, thousands of Iranian women marched in the street, protesting the idea of imposing Hijab with slogans such as “freedom of choice in clothes”. Wearing Hijab became obligatory for all Iranian women from April 1983. Since then, all women have been legally obliged to wear Hijab in public, this law applies to non-Muslims and foreigners too visiting Iran.
Over the years, the Islamic government has introduced even more legal measures and social restrictions to enforce mandatory Hijab laws. Criminal punishment for those violating the law was introduced in the 1990s and ranged from imprisonment to fines.
However, there was a considerable shift in policing the way women in Tehran dressed, starting in January 2018. According to this new decree, women who did not observe the Islamic dress code no longer faced fines or imprisonment but rather had to attend Islam educational classes. “Women no longer required to be taken to detention centres, nor judicial cases could be filed against them.
Priyanka Chopra lends support to Protestors
Meanwhile, former beauty pageant and UN Goodwill Ambassador Actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas has also lent her support to the “courageous women” of Iran who have been protesting over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. Priyanka posted a message for the Iranian protestors on Instagram, saying she is in awe of their courage as they fight for their rights.
Supreme Court delivers split verdict in Karnataka Hijab-row
And back in India, the Supreme Court has delivered a split verdict in the Karnataka Hijab ban case, today, the controversial issue is now placed before the Chief Justice of India U U Lalit for appropriate directions.
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