Iran to 'Firmly Punish' Women Breaking Hijab Law

    Photo: rferl

    The Facts

    • Following four months of protests, Iran's judiciary has decreed that women violating the hijab policy be "firmly punished" by police.

    • Since the September 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old ethnic Kurd arrested in Tehran for allegedly failing to adhere to hijab laws, protests against the measures have swept the country.


    The Spin

    Establishment-critical narrative

    The demands for fundamental changes to the freedoms of women in Iran despite widespread government repression must be heard. Authorities, both in Iran and around the world, must listen to their cries against discrimination. There is no place for such sexist oppression in the world today.

    Pro-establishment narrative

    The current unrest in Iran is the product of perilous plots hatched in the West. Contrary to much Western propaganda, Islam and the Shia sect respect and protect women. The wearing of a hijab should not be disrespected by the West, which attempts to undermine the important position of women in the holy religion and in Iran.

    Nerd narrative

    It is estimated that Iran will cease to be an Islamic Republic by February 2031, according to the Metaculus prediction community.



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