- Iran morality police will no longer bother women, new president says
- Pezeshkian made these remarks on the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death
- UN warned last week that Iran has increased efforts to suppress women’s rights since the protests
- Pezeshkian considered a potentially reformist figure
Iran morality police will no longer bother women, new president says
Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has stated that the country’s morality police will no longer “bother” women about the mandatory hijab. His statement comes shortly after the UN raised concerns about the violent punishment of women who defy the strict dress code.
Pezeshkian made these remarks on the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death, a 22-year-old woman who died in police custody after being arrested for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly. Amini’s death sparked widespread protests across the country.
Despite the UN’s warning last week that Iran has increased efforts to suppress women’s rights since the protests, Pezeshkian on Monday suggested a different approach, saying the morality police should no longer target women on the streets.
Pezeshkian, who assumed office following the death of his predecessor in a helicopter crash, is considered a potentially reformist figure. His comments came in response to a question from a female journalist, who mentioned taking a longer route to the press conference to avoid police vans. The journalist, wearing her hijab loosely with some hair visible, confirmed to Pezeshkian that police were still patrolling the streets.