
International regret over the adoption of a draft law tightening the penalty for not wearing the hijab in Iran
- Europe and Arabs
- Monday , 25 September 2023 10:30 AM GMT
Geneva - Tehran: Europe and the Arabs
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed its deep regret over the Iranian Parliament’s adoption of a draft law known as “Hijab and Chastity” that significantly increases prison sentences and imposes heavy fines for women and girls who do not wear the hijab.
At a press conference held at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva last weekend, Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the Commission, said that the draft law includes vague concepts regarding the promotion of terms such as “nudity or obscenity.”
She added that the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, reiterates that this strict law blatantly violates international law.
Financial fines and flogging
The UN spokeswoman stated that the draft law has reached its final stage, and is now being considered by the Guardian Council.
She added that under the new draft law, those who violate the country's "strict Islamic dress code regarding head coverings and modest clothing" risk imprisonment for up to 10 years, in addition to the possibility of flogging those who violate the law, in addition to fines of up to 360 million riyals. Iranian, which is more than 8,500 US dollars. They also face travel restrictions and denial of access to the Internet.
Shamdasani stated that previous legislation punished such a crime with imprisonment for up to two months, or a fine of up to 500,000 Iranian riyals, equivalent to 11 US dollars.
"Oppressive decision"
The spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights described the new draft law as “oppressive and insulting.”
"Women and girls should not be treated as second-class citizens. It is the authorities' duty to respect, protect and fulfill the rights of all Iranians on an equal basis," she added.
Shamdasani said that the Commission urges the Iranian authorities to take steps to eliminate this discrimination and all forms of discrimination based on gender, and to abolish all laws and practices related to it.
She added, "We call on the authorities to abolish all controls and procedures under which women's behavior in public spaces is specifically monitored, and to introduce laws and policies that enable women and girls to exercise their human rights, including their right to participate fully in public life, without fear of reprisal and discrimination." .
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