All articles tagged with #hijab
An Iranian court sentenced singer Parastoo Ahmadi and eight collaborators to 74 lashes for performing without hijab, plus a two-year ban on leaving the country and performing, signaling a hardening of religious enforcement under Iran’s postwar leadership.
Iran's judiciary sentenced singer Parastoo Ahmadi and several members of her production team to 74 lashes for performing without a hijab during a 2024 livestreamed concert, along with a two‑year travel ban and a two‑year ban on artistic activity; authorities allege the act constituted public decency violation by producing and publishing "vulgar and immoral content," highlighting concerns about increasing cultural repression of Iranian artists.
A Qom province criminal court reportedly sentenced Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi and eight crew members to 74 lashes, plus a two-year travel ban and a two-year ban on artistic activity, for performing without hijab during a 2024 livestream of the Caravanserai Concert. Prosecutors accuse them of offending public decency with online materials described as vulgar, reflecting ongoing cultural repression in Iran; rights groups say the punishment underscores the gap between regime rhetoric and the treatment of artists. The ruling hasn’t been officially published, though court documents seen by lawyers outline the charges.
Iranian authorities reportedly sentenced singer Parastoo Ahmadi and eight production team members to 74 lashes, plus a two-year travel ban and a two-year ban on artistic activity, for performing a hijab-free concert in a 2024 livestream that officials said violated public decency; rights groups question the legal basis and warn the ruling signals intensified cultural repression, drawing reactions from international activists and artists.
In Herat, Afghanistan, a rare women’s protest against the Taliban’s hijab rules turned deadly as security forces dispersed the crowd, with medics reporting two deaths and several injuries; police deny fatalities and say they acted to maintain public order, while witnesses describe gunfire and beatings. The incident underscores ongoing restrictions on women’s rights under the Taliban since 2021.
Despite ongoing enforcement, Iran's authorities appear to be easing their strict mandatory hijab policies amid social disobedience and protests, though they have not officially abandoned the rule, and a potential crackdown remains possible. Women are increasingly dressing freely in public, reflecting a shift driven by civil resistance, but the regime continues to enforce and threaten repression against those opposing the hijab.
Iran plans to mobilize 80,000 volunteers in Tehran to promote social and religious discipline, including hijab enforcement, amid ongoing public opposition and civil protests against mandatory hijab laws, with efforts to monitor online spaces and enforce legal compliance.
Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi was arrested after performing a YouTube concert without wearing a hijab, violating Iran's strict morality laws. Her musicians were also detained. Despite Iran's restricted access to YouTube, the concert was viewed 74,000 times within 12 hours. Ahmadi's arrest highlights ongoing protests against Iran's gendered morality laws, which have been under scrutiny since the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement following Mahsa Amini's death in 2022.
Iran's parliament has passed a new hijab and chastity bill, mandating women to wear hijabs and imposing severe penalties for non-compliance, including fines and restrictions on government services. This move comes amid growing resistance from women, especially after the 2022 death of Jina Mahsa Amini, which sparked widespread protests and the "Women, Life, Freedom" movement. The law, criticized for its harshness, requires institutions to aid in enforcement and criminalizes promoting non-compliant clothing. President Massoud Pezeshkian, seen as a reformist, faces pressure to delay its implementation.
Iran plans to open a "hijab removal treatment clinic" for women defying mandatory hijab laws, offering "scientific and psychological treatment." The move, announced by Mehri Talebi Darestani, has sparked outrage among "Woman, Life, Freedom" protest groups, who view it as a form of psychological manipulation and repression. Critics, including human rights advocates, condemn the use of psychiatric facilities to curb dissent, calling it abusive and contrary to Islamic and Iranian law. The initiative follows increased enforcement of dress codes since the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement began after Mahsa Amini's death in 2022.
Iran has established a mental health clinic in Tehran to "treat" women who refuse to wear the hijab, as part of efforts to suppress female dissent following the "Woman, Life, Freedom" uprising in 2022. The clinic, overseen by a government body under international sanctions for human rights abuses, claims to offer optional treatment for women seeking social and Islamic identity. This move follows increased surveillance and enforcement of hijab laws, which have been condemned by international organizations and Iranian psychiatric associations as systemic oppression and misdiagnosis of mental illness.
A viral video of a young woman protesting Iran's compulsory hijab law by walking in her underwear highlights the ongoing struggle for women's rights in Iran. This act of defiance follows the death of Mahsa Amini, which sparked widespread protests against the country's repressive dress codes. The article draws parallels between Iran's control over women's bodies and similar issues in other countries, including the U.S., where women's reproductive rights face challenges under conservative leadership. Despite setbacks, women continue to resist and fight for their rights globally.
New York City has agreed to pay $17.5 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that police officers forced two Muslim American women to remove their hijabs for mugshot photos, with the women claiming violation of their religious and constitutional rights. The settlement, which still requires court approval, could make over 3,600 people eligible for payments. The lawsuit prompted the New York City Police Department to change its policy regarding religious garb in booking photographs, and notices of the settlement will be provided in multiple languages.
New York City has agreed to pay $17.5 million to settle a class-action suit brought by two women who were forced to remove their hijabs for mug shots, leading to a change in NYPD policy. The women, Jamilla Clark and Arwa Aziz, described feeling humiliated and violated, and the settlement will provide compensation for thousands of eligible individuals who were similarly affected. The lawsuit also highlighted the violation of religious rights and privacy, with the NYPD now facing a reform in its practices regarding religious head coverings during arrests.
New York City has agreed to pay $17.5 million to settle a class action lawsuit over the forced removal of hijabs for mug shots, with more than 3,600 women eligible for payments. The lawsuit, filed in 2018, alleged that women were made to remove their hijabs during arrests between 2014 and 2021. The NYPD changed its policy in 2020 to allow all arrestees to retain their religious head coverings, except for limited exceptions.