Iranian Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif said the government has agreed to postpone enforcing the country’s strict Islamic dress code. This move is said to ease the pressure on women, giving them more freedom to choose their attires. Zarif made the statement at the World Economic Forum in Davos, saying that although the law is still there, the government has decided not to enforce it strictly.
The dress code, which requires covering the neck and head and dressing modestly, has been a source of controversy since its introduction after the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Zarif said that if one walked down the streets of Tehran, they would see many women not covering their hair, despite it being against the law. This is seen as a step towards easing social tensions and promoting individual freedoms.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, in consultation with top officials of the government, decided to relax the implementation of the law. This move is after large-scale protests and social upheavals that erupted after the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, leading to widespread protests against the dress code and other restrictive policies.
While Zarif admitted that it is not the step to eradicate all the issues, he did say that this is a move in the right direction. It is the way to balance upholding cultural and religious values while respecting individual rights and freedoms.
