Iran’s parliament has approved a contentious bill aimed at toughening penalties for women and girls who violate the country’s strict dress code.
The bill, named the “Hijab and Chastity Bill,” was passed by a vote of 152 to 34 and includes provisions for extended prison terms and higher fines.
It still needs to be approved by the Guardian Council to become law.
Under this proposed legislation, individuals deemed to be dressed “inappropriately” in public places could face severe consequences.
Offenders may be subjected to a “fourth degree” punishment, as per the penal code, resulting in prison sentences ranging from five to ten years and fines ranging from 180 million to 360 million rials ($3,651 to $7,302).
The bill also proposes fines for those “promoting nudity” or “making fun of the hijab” in the media and on social networks, and for owners of vehicles in which a female driver or passenger is not wearing the hijab or appropriate clothing, according to AFP news agency.
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Any person who promotes violating the dress code “in an organised manner” or “in co-operation with foreign or hostile governments, media, groups or organisations” could also be imprisoned for between five and 10 years, it says.
The move comes a year after protests erupted over the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who was held by morality police for an allegedly improper hijab.
Women burnt their headscarves or waved them in the air at the nationwide demonstrations against the clerical establishment, during which hundreds of people were reportedly killed in a crackdown by security forces.
A growing number of women and girls have stopped covering their hair in public altogether as the unrest has subsided, despite the return of the morality police to the streets and the installation of surveillance cameras.
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Under Iranian law, which is based on the country’s interpretation of Sharia, women and girls above the age of puberty must cover their hair with a hijab and wear long, loose-fitting clothing to disguise their figures.
Currently, those not complying risk a prison term of between 10 days and two months or a fine of between 5,000 and 500,000 rials ($0.10-$10.14 at the black market exchange rate).
