Iran’s New Hijab Law: Death Penalty And Harsh Punishments For 'Improper Dressing' Spark Global Outrage

Iran is set to implement harsh new mandatory morality laws this week, imposing severe penalties, including the death penalty, on women accused of defying the country’s dress code. 

The legislation, which seeks to enforce the "culture of chastity and hijab," mandates punishment for those accused of promoting nudity, indecency, unveiling, or improper dressing. 

Repeat offenders could face prison terms of five to 15 years, fines up to $15,700, or flogging. The measures were ratified by Iranian authorities earlier this month.

Article 37 of the legislation introduces additional penalties for those accused of advocating unveiling or "improper dressing" to foreign media or international organisations. Convictions under this provision could lead to 10 years in prison and fines of up to £12,500.

More alarmingly, the law invokes Article 286 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code, which categorises actions deemed to constitute "corruption on Earth" as punishable by death. Women and girls engaging in peaceful activism or sharing videos of themselves unveiled with foreign entities could face execution under this provision.

Amnesty International has strongly criticised the legislation, warning that it criminalises peaceful dissent and the advocacy of women’s rights. The organisation has also expressed concern over provisions granting legal immunity to individuals enforcing compulsory veiling under the guise of religious duty.

The law also targets those who intervene to protect women defying the mandatory dress code. Article 60 stipulates imprisonment or fines for anyone attempting to prevent the arrest or harassment of women in such cases.

The move comes two years after the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who died in police custody after being detained for improper hijab. Her death sparked nationwide protests and led to widespread defiance of the dress code by Iranian women.

Last month, a young Iranian student staged a public protest by removing her clothing in defiance of the regulations, reportedly leading to her forced admission to a psychiatric hospital.

Authorities have since announced plans to establish "hijab clinics" to address noncompliance, a move that has further fueled public outrage.

The new laws represent an intensified crackdown on women’s rights, drawing sharp criticism from human rights advocates globally.

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