Strict law on ‘hijab and chastity’ approved in Iran
The Iranian Parliament approved the implementation of the law, which provides for fines, blocking of banking services and judicial procedures for violations of the mandatory headscarf law in public places, for a trial period of 3 years.
According to the official Iranian news agency IRNA, the draft law “Support for chastity and hijab culture”, prepared by the government on the recommendation of the judiciary and sent to Parliament with the signature of President Ibrahim Reisi, was put to a vote.
The bill was approved with 152 votes against 34 negative votes of the 201 deputies present in Parliament. Seven deputies abstained from the vote. It was decided that the law would be applied on a trial basis for 3 years.
For the law to come into force it must be approved by the Guardian Council of the Constitution (AKK), which carries out the final review of laws passed by Parliament.
FINE AND PRISON SENTENCE ARE ON THE AGENDA
Under the bill prepared to counter violations of mandatory headscarf rules, which became widespread after the Mahsa Amini protests in Iran last year, women who violate the headscarf rule will be warned through text messages and similar methods In the first stage. Those who ignore the warning and violate the veil rule again will be fined.
If the fine is not paid within one month, the fine will be automatically deducted from the person’s bank account. If it is not possible to collect the fines for any reason, the person concerned will be prohibited from carrying out any banking transaction, including the issuance and renewal of a bank card, covering all banks and credit institutions. Objections to sanctions can be submitted within 10 days.
In the event of a fourth violation, in addition to a fine, the judiciary will file a lawsuit against the interested party and arrest him if it deems necessary.
Companies that violate the law may be temporarily sealed within the scope of the sanctions regulation and may be excluded from tax exemptions offered by the state.
Violators of the law among those engaged in social, political, cultural, artistic or sporting activities can be sued, demanding fines, bans on professional activities and, ultimately, imprisonment, depending on the number of violations. (AA)