In April of 1983, Islamic law made it mandatory for all women to wear hijabs. Many other countries share this same law, prohibiting women from showing any hair or wearing the hijab "incorrectly." Even tourists or non-muslims have to wear hijabs when traveling to these places. In the 1990's, the government began threatening people with imprisonment, flogging, or fines if they refuse to wear head coverings. Women can be placed in jail anywhere from 10 days to 2 months in Iran for not wearing hijabs. However, laws changed in January of 2018, which lightened the punishment for these crimes. Women would only have to attend educational classes if they were seen without head coverings, although repeat offenders would face charges. This obligatory dress code has been around for years, and little to nothing has changed since then.
While many women in Iran defend this law, others believe that it should be a women's choice if they choose to wear a hijab or not. Protests have begun to be more pronounced as a 22-year old woman named Masha Amini was found dead in a hospital under police custody. She was taken by Iran's religious moralilty police for wearing her hijab "improperly". Suspicions arose as a picture of Amini in a coma spread around social media. Other reports state the Amini had hemorrhaging in her head which suggest she had been struck multiple times before passing away. Many believed that she had been beaten and killed by the police. Amini's story caused an ourtrage amongst many people who demand a change to the law. Women across the world have begun to take off their hijab or even go as far as shaving their heads to stand againt the Iran government. Amini's coroner denies these allegations, stating that her death was not from head injuries but rather from an underlying illness that she was suffering from. Still, this was not enough evidence for the public, as they still are protesting for the right to not wear a hijab.
Although America does not share the same laws as Islamic countries, women here are also protesting for the people of Iran. Americans still have families and friends who face danger everyday living in Iran and are afraid of what the government may do as punishment to all women there. I think that it should not be mandatory for women to wear hijabs nor any form of clothing permitted by the government. People should be able to wear whatever they feel most comfortable in. Governments should not have the power to control every part of a person's lives down to the strands of hair the have in their face.
Should America help women who are forced to wear hijabs?
Should women in Iran continue protesting?
Will Iran consider changing their laws on hijabs?
https://repository.uchastings.edu/hastings_race_poverty_law_journal/vol5/iss2/6/
Replies
I openly think that it would be up to the women. In the situation that they are in, it can be very important and religious to them. So it should be the women's choice whether to wear it or not to wear it but like you said “Although America does not share the same laws as Islamic countries, women here are also protesting for the people of Iran.” I hope the islamic women that immigrate to a different country feel safe and are not forced into anything they don’t want to do.
I believe that the United States should help the women but it's a tough situation because we don't want to cause more problems with Iran. I think that history shows that people protesting can cause a lot of problems but also lead to real change, so women should continue to protest. I hope That Iran decides to change their laws and let wo[men have a say in what they wear. Good topic.
I agree that the United States may get in some trouble for trying to help the women in Iran. I think that if there was a way to help more anonymously and privately that would be a better option for those who want to help. As for protesting, I think the message getting out is worth the risk personally, but I can see why people would stray from putting themselves in those dangerous situations.
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