Upholding compulsory hijab and declaring unveiling forbidden after the 2022 protests
Khamenei dismissed women's protests against compulsory hijab in 2018 as small and enemy-driven, and after the 2022 uprising declared removing the headscarf religiously and politically forbidden. Days later police announced cameras to identify unveiled women, and a harsher hijab law with prison terms of up to 15 years was paused in 2024 amid criticism.
Editorial timeline of public reporting, not a legal finding.
- Calls the 'Girls of Enghelab Street' protests small and the work of the enemy - Radio Farda reported that after women removed their headscarves and held them up on sticks in protest against compulsory hijab, Khamenei described the protests as 'small and insignificant' and the result of enemy planning. Dozens of women were arrested during the protests. Khamenei Calls Hijab Protests The Work Of The Enemy
- Declares unveiling 'religiously and politically forbidden' - BBC Persian and Al Arabiya reported that Khamenei told officials that removing the hijab was 'religiously and politically forbidden' and said hidden hands were behind it. It was his first direct comment on hijab since the 2022 protests. آیتالله خامنهای: کشف حجاب حرام شرعی و حرام سیاسی است
- Police install cameras to identify unveiled women - Reuters reported that days after the speech, Iranian police said they were installing cameras in public places and thoroughfares to identify unveiled women, who would receive warning text messages. Iran installs cameras in public places to identify, penalise unveiled women
- Harsher hijab law paused amid criticism - BBC News reported that Iran's Supreme National Security Council paused the 'hijab and chastity law', which provided heavier fines and prison terms of up to 15 years. President Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) had called it 'ambiguous and in need of reform', while hardline factions close to Khamenei pressed for its enforcement, the BBC reported. Iran pauses controversial new dress code law