Iran: UN experts identify human rights violation in the provisions of the new Law on Protecting the Family through the Promotion of the Culture of Chastity and Hijab
On December 13, 2024 the new Law on Protecting the Family through the Promotion of the Culture of Chastity and Hijab took effect in the Iranian state. It further tightens the economic sanctions and imprisonment already provided for in the Islamic Penal Code, making the former more severe and increasing the length of the latter to 15 years’ imprisonment for all persons over the age of 12 who refrain from wearing the hijab, encourage nudity or wear inappropriate clothing. It also introduces the death penalty for the crime of ‘corruption on earth’.
Many UN independent experts* have not hesitated to condemn its problematic aspects that pose a threat for the human rights and freedoms of Iranian civilians. Specifically, the Law undermines the fundamental rights of women by depriving them of the possibility of self-determination, of their privacy and security, and of their freedom of expression and religion, through increased state control over their bodies, and the imposition and widespread dissemination of values of the so-called “culture of chastity” and a patriarchal idea of family. According to the experts, this will contribute to worsening the condition of women exposed to growing violence, and to make Iranian society even more structurally discriminatory and segregated.
Lastly, the law empowers civilians to denounce cases of non-compliance, damaging internal trust relations within their communities. In the light of such violations of fundamental human rights, experts urged the Iranian government to take urgent action towards the abrogation of this rule.
*UN experts that expressed their concern: Mai Sato, Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran; Nazila Ghanea, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief; Reem Alsalem, Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences; Laura Nyirinkindi, Claudia Flores, Dorothy Estrada Tanck, Ivana Krstić, and Haina Lu, members of the Working group on discrimination against women and girls; Alexandra Xanthaki, Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights; Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression.