The Iranian regime has temporarily backed down on enforcing its controversial mandatory hijab law, following intervention from the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) and growing internal disputes. Fearing a repeat of the 2022 nationwide uprising, officials have acknowledged the potential for severe social backlash, particularly as Tehran grapples with economic crises, regional setbacks, and deepening public dissatisfaction.
Since the evening of December 14, state media confirmed that the SNSC has intervened, requesting the regime’s Parliament to delay the law’s implementation. The move, described by Raja News, an outlet affiliated with Saeed Jalili, as an attempt to “avoid creating tensions” given the country’s fragile conditions, has triggered outrage among hardline factions. “This inability to enforce laws exposes the state’s management crisis and delivers a dangerous signal to society,” Raja News warned, adding: “Stopping laws undermines public trust and governance structures.”
The postponement follows escalating concerns within regime circles about the law’s enforceability. Ali Rabiee, advisor for social affairs to the regime’s president Masoud Pezeshkian, candidly admitted: “Everyone I speak with, regardless of their political leanings, agrees this law is impractical.” Rabiee praised Pezeshkian’s referral of the matter to the SNSC, saying: “The president’s decision to prioritize national security considerations reflects awareness of its potential social repercussions.”
The Tabnak website, affiliated with the former IRGC commander-in-chief Mohsen Rezaee, criticized the law’s rushed and “non-expert” approval, noting that the 85-article hijab law imposes punishments even harsher than those for kidnapping or drug trafficking.
Shahram Dabiri, Pezeshkian’s parliamentary deputy, confirmed that the government had proposed an “amended bill” to Parliament to “pause enforcement” until further deliberations. However, extremist factions and their affiliated members, including Mortaza Agha-Tehrani, head of the Cultural Commission, insist the law must proceed, with the MP warning: “If Pezeshkian refuses to enforce it, Ghalibaf [Parliament Speaker] will.”
The divisions expose a deeper existential crisis. Factions close to the regime’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei fear that backing down on hijab enforcement will erode their already waning authority, while others recognize that enforcing such a law risks triggering massive public unrest. As Pezeshkian himself stated: “This law will not be accepted by society; implementing it will only create greater dissatisfaction.”
Meanwhile, widespread criticism has extended beyond regime circles. United Nations experts have condemned the law, calling it a “severe violation of women’s rights” that enables harsh penalties, including 15-year prison sentences and, in extreme cases, capital punishment under charges of “corruption on earth.” The UN panel emphasized that the law represents “government control over women’s bodies” and a direct attack on their fundamental freedoms.
The failure to enforce the law on its promised date, December 14, marks a significant retreat for the regime. Previously, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Parliament Speaker, had declared that the law would be implemented without delay. Yet, faced with internal discord and the potential for renewed protests, even Ghalibaf’s rhetoric has softened.
The current standstill highlights the regime’s growing fears of another uprising, particularly as Iran grapples with mounting economic crises, international isolation, and regional setbacks such as the collapse of its “strategic depth” in Syria. Analysts warn that either enforcing or abandoning the law carries significant risks for the regime. “Both paths are equally dangerous,” noted one commentator, reflecting the regime’s fragile grip on power.
What remains clear is that the clerical establishment, divided and fearful, is running out of options. While extremist factions cling to repression, their previous peers who now present themselves as reformists concede that the hijab law risks becoming a flashpoint for a society that grows ever more defiant and unwilling to endure decades of authoritarian rule. As the regime wavers, the Iranian people become increasingly resolute in their determination to rise up.
Source » ncr-iran