Iran Delays Enforcement of Strict Hijab Law Amid Public and Global Pressure

The controversial law, which proposed harsher penalties for dress code violations, faces amendments after widespread criticism and fears of renewed protests.

• Iran's National Security Council has postponed the implementation of the new hijab law, originally set to take effect on December 13, citing the need for amendments and further review.
• The proposed law would impose severe penalties, including fines, imprisonment, and restrictions on personal freedoms, for violating dress code rules, particularly targeting women and girls as young as 12.
• The delay follows significant domestic and international backlash, with critics calling the law oppressive and a violation of fundamental human rights, including bodily autonomy and freedom of expression.
• President Masoud Pezeshkian, who previously criticized the treatment of women over the hijab issue, has expressed concerns about the law's ambiguity and its potential to disrupt societal unity.
• The decision comes in the context of ongoing tension over women's rights in Iran, with public defiance of dress codes growing since the 2022 protests following Mahsa Amini's death in police custody.

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