Understanding Mandatory Hijab Laws

Iran’s president’s wife, Jamileh Alamolhoda, spoke to NPR in New York, defending her government’s mandatory hijab laws as the nation marked the one-year anniversary of widespread protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for not wearing a headscarf correctly.

Alamolhoda, who accompanied her husband to the United Nations meeting, aimed to represent Iranian women who support the head coverings. She acknowledged that many Iranian women favor these regulations and defended the government’s crackdown on the protests, which resulted in numerous detentions, hundreds of deaths, and several executions, according to human rights organizations.

While Alamolhoda believes that these restrictions are in the interest of women who primarily support their husbands and families, she also suggested that traditional feminist movements, focused on competition between men and women, may not be helpful to these women.

She argued that Iranian women who rebelled were influenced by Western culture, particularly Hollywood and social media, which she referred to as “Americanization.” In contrast, she advocated for “Iranianization,” which emphasizes a more traditional focus on family.

Robin Wright, an Iran specialist, noted that many women in Iran embrace conservative views. However, in the past four decades, the government has supported widespread female literacy and education, leading to greater connections with the wider world and demands for choice in dress and behavior.

The Iranian government views the dress code as crucial, as it has clerical authority since the 1979 revolution. Any significant departure from the dress code could threaten the government’s stability.

On the day of the interview, Iran’s parliament passed legislation increasing penalties for violating the dress code. Alamolhoda argued that non-compliance negatively impacts family health, leading to issues like divorce.

Re-reported from the article originally published in NPR