The clerical regime in Iran is facing internal conflict over the controversial new hijab law, with factions deeply divided on its implications for the regime’s stability. The law, designed to enforce stricter dress codes as a means of suppressing dissent and asserting control over women, has ignited intense debate among the regime’s leadership, revealing their shared concern over the regime’s survival and differing strategies for ensuring it.
After months of delays and negotiations between state institutions, the “Law for Supporting Families by Promoting the Culture of Chastity and Hijab” was scheduled for enforcement on December 13, following its approval by the parliament and ratification by the Guardian Council. Yet, its contentious nature and the associated divisions have stalled its implementation.
The regime’s president Masoud Pezeshkian, a loyalist to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, voiced strong reservations about the law during a televised interview on December 3. While reaffirming his allegiance to Khamenei’s directives, Pezeshkian underscored the potential societal backlash the law might trigger. “We have discussed this law extensively. As the one responsible for implementing it, I have many questions. Society will not accept this, and implementing it will create dissatisfaction,” he said.
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Pezeshkian highlighted enforcement challenges, such as fining taxi drivers and restaurant owners for serving or transporting unveiled women, adding, “Is this even possible? Will society accept it? Let’s not create more dissatisfaction.” His concerns reflected not empathy for public sentiment but rather fears that widespread unrest could destabilize the regime.
Pezeshkian’s remarks were met with sharp criticism from hardline factions. MP Qasem Ravanbakhsh accused him of undermining the regime’s authority and shirking his constitutional responsibilities. “The president, who has sworn to uphold the Constitution and enforce laws approved by the parliament and Guardian Council, now questions the law on television,” he charged.
The regime-aligned Mehr News Agency also defended the law, accusing its detractors of fearmongering. In a piece titled The Hijab Law: A Law Criticized Without Being Read, the outlet asserted that mechanisms like requiring rideshare platforms to report non-compliant passengers would ensure smooth enforcement and criticized opponents for allegedly spreading misinformation.
The internal divisions extend to Pezeshkian’s administration. Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Abbas Salehi acknowledged during a December 4 press briefing that the law remains unfinalized. “The hijab law has not yet been officially promulgated, and various versions of it are being discussed,” he said, adding that the government is conducting “complementary dialogues” to refine the law and address its practical implications. “We are working to achieve a clearer position on this law through discussions with decision-makers,” Salehi noted.
Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani also highlighted the contentious nature of the law, cautioning against the societal damage it might cause. “The government has its considerations regarding this law and is striving to navigate the issue through dialogue and negotiation to minimize harm to society. Everyone understands that societal damage benefits no one,” she stated.
Pro-regime outlets like the Hamshahri newspaper, linked to the Tehran municipality, have defended the law as reflecting the people’s will. An editorial claimed, “When asked about the necessity of hijab, the overwhelming majority believe in it, even if they don’t fully observe it themselves.” The piece dismissed the criticism as deliberate misinformation, stating that the law underwent extensive expert review and is rooted in both Islamic and cultural principles. It positioned the law as vital to countering what it described as “the blatant enemy project of unveiling.”
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Despite such defenses, the law has faced significant opposition from political advisors and analysts who warn of its potential to inflame public anger. Sakineh Sadat Pad, an advisor to Pezeshkian, criticized the urgency of implementing the law, stating, “The provisions of the hijab law require discussion at a meeting of the heads of the three branches of government. Rushing to enforce a law that remains contested among scholars, jurists, and society is neither wise nor rational.”
Legal and sociological critiques have focused on the law’s punitive measures and its disconnection from societal realities. Insider critics argue that harsh enforcement will deepen divisions and exacerbate public unrest, echoing the lessons of the 2022 protests sparked by the morality police’s crackdown.
At the heart of the clash lies a shared priority: the survival of the regime. Hardliners see strict enforcement as essential to preserving the regime’s ideological core, while revisionist factions fear that heavy-handed policies will fuel public anger and hasten instability. The debate underscores a larger struggle within the regime to reconcile ideological rigidity with growing societal pressures.
As Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, already besieged by domestic, regional, and international crises, appears determined to push ahead with a broader social crackdown, the regime faces an uncertain future. By advancing the hijab law amid mounting opposition and societal discontent, Khamenei risks exacerbating internal and external pressures that could further destabilize the regime. How these policies unfold will likely define the regime’s trajectory in the coming months.
Source » ncr-iran