What began as anger at the hijab law has grown into a bigger movement as Iranians say they're fed up with the regime's corruption, economic mismanagement, and oppression.
While most women in Iran still cover their hair – whether by choice or because it's the law — the defiance of the law by many is a new thing, according to Foad Izadi, a professor at Tehran University, whose views track closely with Iran's hardline leaders."The government realized that the way they were enforcing the laws was not effective, and it resulted in a lot of difficulties for the country. And it means you may never go back to the situation we had here five months ago.
In recent years, Iran would ease on hijab enforcement around public holidays. During the previous administration, under the relatively moderate president Hassan Rouhani, more affluent areas in Tehran rarely saw enforcement. However, when Iran's hardline president Ebrahim Raisi came to power in 2021, things changed.
Women in Iran do not have the same legal protections as men, yet in places like Tajrish Square in Tehran it's not uncommon to see women without headscarves.Women in Iran do not have the same legal protections as men, yet in places like Tajrish Square in Tehran it's not uncommon to see women without headscarves.Many Muslim women around the world choose to cover their hair for religious or traditional reasons, including in Iran.
"A political manifestation against the then government," Esfandiari said."It was not necessarily a sign of religiosity."Marjan Yazdi for NPRNPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks to women in Tehran who are choosing to not wear headscarves.In 1979, women played a major role during the Islamic revolution. They were out on the streets, campaigning for regime change.
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