Women could face the death penalty or up to 15 years in prison under a new mandatory morality law in Iran that takes effect this week.
The law, which aims to enforce a “culture of purity and hijab”, provides for harsh punishments for those accused of “nudity, indecency, revealing or inappropriate clothing”. Repeat offenders can be fined up to $15,700, caned, or imprisoned for five to 15 years. The laws were approved by Iranian authorities earlier this month.
Article 37 of the new law provides for up to 10 years in prison and higher fines for anyone accused of propagating or advocating indecency, unveiling or “improperly dressing” foreign organizations, including international media and civil society organizations. As £12,500.
The most extreme punishment, however, is reserved for those deemed to constitute “corruption on earth” under Article 286 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code. This provision allows for the death penalty, meaning women and girls exposed to foreign media or involved in peaceful activism could potentially face the death penalty.
Amnesty International has expressed deep concern over the impact of these laws, warning that they effectively criminalize peaceful dissent and advocacy for women’s rights. The organization noted that the law appears to grant immunity to people who work under the guise of fulfilling a “religious duty” such as wearing the mandatory veil.
Furthermore, under Article 60 of the new law, anyone who interferes with or tries to prevent the arrest or harassment of women and girls who defy the mandatory veil can be jailed or fined.
The law comes two years after nationwide protests erupted following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who was detained for not wearing the hijab properly.
In the last two years, Iranian women have increasingly disobeyed the strict dress code in public. Last month, videos emerged of a young Iranian student stripping down to his underwear in apparent protest against the rules. The footage, which went viral on social media, said he was taken to an undisclosed psychiatric hospital in Tehran.
Authorities have since announced plans to set up “hijab clinics” to deal with women flouting the dress code, a move that has sparked further outrage.