Statement of the Campaign to Stop “Honor” Killings Condemning the Chastity and Hijab Bil
From the February revolution of 1979 to the present, the Islamic “Republic” government has persistently and seriously pursued a policy of marginalizing women from political, legal, social, and cultural participation through the enactment of discriminatory and misogynistic laws, incurring significant costs. Repressive measures such as arrests, imprisonment, flogging, fines, and even killing women within detention centers have been employed in the attempt to promote the hijab. However, none of these measures have succeeded in quelling the determination of women in their struggle for liberation. Observing that civil disobedience has rendered its women less submissive, the Islamic government has now embarked on preparing more repressive measures under the guise of the “Family Protection Bill by Promoting the Culture of Chastity and Hijab.”
This bill, approved by the Legal and Judicial Commission of the Islamic Council on August 6th, 1402, has expanded from 15 to 70 articles, imposing punishments ranging from arrests to fines for those found in violation. The bill introduces over 30 new crimes into the nation’s legal framework, each lacking clear legal definitions or explanations. For instance, “Insulting the principle of hijab” raises questions about what constitutes this principle—whether it pertains to religion or morality. Notably, hijab is not a fundamental religious principle. Consequently, what constitutes an “insult” to the “principle of hijab”? Would describing hijab as “compulsory” or symbolically protesting it through acts like discarding the headscarf or symbolic burning constitute an insult?
Among the newly criminalized behaviors are cases such as promoting hijab or “improper clothing” by business owners, ignoring reports of improperly veiled individuals from internet hosts, importing, producing, distributing, or selling prohibited clothing, and more. This type of legislation not only inflates the legal code and introduces new criminal offenses but also criminalizes actions that were not deemed crimes prior to the bill’s enactment. Individuals should have the freedom to choose their attire and lifestyle, and no entity should possess the authority to enact laws that undermine the rights of a portion or the entirety of society.
In light of these concerns, the Campaign to Stop “Honor” Killings calls upon the Legal and Judicial Commission of the Islamic Parliament, as well as the judiciary, intelligence, security, and police institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to halt violence against women. Society and civil organizations will undoubtedly stand against actions that infringe upon the dignity and human worth of women and contravene the rights of citizens, as they have done in the past.
The Campaign to Stop “Honor” Killings views the approval of such bills as contributing to the escalation of violence in society and the subsequent chaos it brings. Furthermore, we implore the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, the Special Rapporteur of the Commission for the Prohibition of Violence Against Women, and the Independent International Truth-Finding Commission to respond decisively and appropriately to these actions, which violate human rights and international laws.
Stop honor killings campaign
