Tag: Hijab and Chastity Bill

by Gelara Fanaeian, the Law School, University of Bristol

This blog post is the second part of a two-part review of the Hijab and Chastity Bill. In the first section, the fundamental elements of the Hijab and Chastity Bill, the UN’s approach toward it, the legal and political background that led to its establishment, and its effect on women’s right to health were discussed. In this section, Iran’s obligation to international human rights law and the role of the international community will be analysed briefly.

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by Gelara Fanaeian, the Law School, University of Bristol

In July 2023, the Iranian parliament started the process of new legislation and harsher laws for women who fail to follow compulsory hijab laws. The outcome was the Hijab and Chastity Bill: a draft law consisting of 70 articles. MPs relied on Article 85 of Iran’s constitution to review bills without public debate. According to UN experts, “The draft law could be described as a form of gender apartheid. The bill violates fundamental rights, including the right to take part in cultural life, the prohibition of gender discrimination, the right to access social, educational, and health services, and freedom of movement.” Less than one month after the UN warning, a majority of the Iranian parliament voted to pass the bill for a 3-year trial. This article will highlight the impact of the bill on one aspect of women’s rights: the right to health. Before going deeply into this discussion, one fundamental question needs to be answered: Why has the Iranian parliament decided to approve the bill? (more…)