Tehran, Iran: Iran bans female actors for violating hijab laws. In a reaffirmation of Iran’s adherence to its longstanding and rigorous dress code, the nation’s Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister, Mohammad Mehdi Esmaili, delivered a resolute message to the public and the entertainment industry.
The directive, issued after a weekly cabinet meeting, unequivocally states that those who fail to abide by the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code, particularly the mandatory headscarves or hijabs, will not be permitted to engage in professional endeavors.
This stern proclamation comes as a response to what the Iranian government perceives as violations of hijab laws by several prominent female actresses.
Iranian media reported that celebrated actresses Taraneh Alidoosti, Katayoun Riahi, and Fatemeh Motamed-Aria have been found to be in breach of the hijab laws, subsequently rendering them ineligible to take on roles in motion pictures.
This decision represents the government’s unwavering commitment to the enforcement of dress code regulations.
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Notably, Taraneh Alidoosti and Katayoun Riahi were among the public figures briefly detained during protests that took place last year following the tragic death in custody of 22-year-old Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini.
Ms. Amini had been apprehended on allegations of violating Iran’s female dress code, and her passing sparked widespread international outrage.
This event catalyzed months-long protests, which, while denounced as “riots” by Iranian authorities, were widely perceived as expressions of public discontent.
As Iran bans female actors for violating hijab laws, the compulsory requirement for women to cover their necks and heads with a headscarf, in compliance with Islamic dress codes, was instituted in 1983, following Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979.
In a move that has raised considerable concern, politicians in Iran voted to enhance the penalties associated with violations of the dress code.
These penalties may now include the imposition of jail sentences of up to 10 years for women who contravene these regulations.
The Iranian government’s resolute stance on dress code enforcement continues to be a subject of both domestic and international debate, with human rights and individual freedoms at the forefront of the discourse.
As the government persists in imposing stringent measures, the controversy surrounding dress code regulations remains an issue of global significance.