This is momentous: the first crack in the Sharia wall. Note also the irony: in the West feminists piously host Hijab Days and whine about nonexistent “Islamophobia,” but never say a word about the Iranian women who have been forced to wear hijab since 1979. Will American feminists stand with the Iranian women who have been bravely taking off their hijabs over the last few days? Not likely.
In any case, we can hope that this is just the first sign of the regime’s weakness, and a harbinger of its impending demise.
“Tehran police: No more arrests for flouting dress code,” by Amir Vahdat, Associated Press, December 29, 2017:
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Police in Iran’s capital said Thursday they will no longer arrest women for failing to observe the Islamic dress code in place since the 1979 revolution.
The announcement signaled an easing of punishments for violating the country’s conservative dress code, as called for by the young and reform-minded Iranians who helped re-elect President Hassan Rouhani, a relative moderate, earlier this year.
But hard-liners opposed to easing such rules still dominate Iran’s security forces and judiciary, so it was unclear whether the change would be fully implemented.
“Those who do not observe the Islamic dress code will no longer be taken to detention centers, nor will judicial cases be filed against them.” Tehran police chief Gen. Hossein Rahimi was quoted as saying by the reformist daily Sharq.
The semi-official Tasnim news agency said violators will instead be made to attend classes given by police. It said repeat offenders could still be subject to legal action, and the dress code remains in place outside the capital.
For nearly 40 years, women in Iran have been forced to cover their hair and wear long, loose garments. Younger and more liberal-minded women have long pushed the boundaries of the official dress code, wearing loose headscarves that don’t fully cover their hair and painting their nails, drawing the ire of conservatives….
Emilie Green says
Believe it only when you see it. And see it happening over a long term.
But it certainly is significant. The choice of an individual female is being recognized, and not being suppressed by obedience to the Shariah.
M says
I honestly wonder what it does to a mans psyche to wear those nightshirt-caftan-dress looking outfits. I mean…..WHY?
StellaSaidSo says
A good start.
I wonder what Linda Sarsour has to say about it…
Save Europe says
She’s probably still tweeting about zero interest on Sharia loans, and lengthy maternity leave in Saudi Arabia….generally, pushing her agenda.
Thomas Kimball says
In her case a Hijab is not a bad thing! Actually that goes for most American feminists,it’s an act of mercy for the rest of the population that doesn’t have to look at them! I wish Hillary would were one! Beautify America !!!
Dr. M says
That’s true, in her case a Burka would actually help.
Save Europe says
Ironic that in Arabic, ‘sarsour’ means ‘a cockroach.’
Westman says
“The semi-official Tasnim news agency said violators will instead be made to attend classes given by police. It said repeat offenders could still be subject to legal action, and the dress code remains in place outside the capital.”
What a nothingburger; trying to head off a counter-revolution. The “morality” police, fathers, brothers, and husbands will continue to beat them at the direction of the Mullahs.
Iran’s clerics are the black holes of the universe who swallow joy, music, culture, and even light; ripping the potential of intelligent Iranians to shreds.
Georg says
Agreed. This is not a recognition of women’s rights but a cynical tactic designed to release enough pressure to ensure further Islamic theocracy — it is for the mullahs.
Westman says
Right on, Georg.
This must be, for the Mullahs, what passes as a “charm offensive”.
Joe says
I don’t know. Allowing women to show their beauty is going to have a strong impact on the young men. It is they, the young men, who decide the future. The Mullahs power is ultimately their ability to control the young men.
I would see this move as throwing gasoline on the fire.
In addition, a “General” issued the order. So that might mean the resistance has military support which would be awful news for the Mullahs.
The classes seemed to be a joke. If they don’t arrest the women, how are they going to force the classes? Maybe they take their name, but will the women learn to lie about that?
gravenimage says
Thanks for the additional information, Westman.
nicu says
Stupid Western feminists fight for Muslim women to wear Hijab !!!
We are walking backwards while Iran walks forward ….
Muslim women must fight against their men !
RichardL says
I honestly fail to see this as progress. They have to go to re-education classes instead of being charged and immediately released.
mike9a says
The progress is that one won’t end up in jail or disappear over night or family being guilty by association. In totalitarian regime that is significant loss of grip/power. Hopefully this is tip of an iceberg.
gravenimage says
Yes–I still think this might be the first sign of Islamic authorities backing down. We’ll see.
IQ al Rassooli says
People who have studied Muhammad’s Quran would NOT be surprised because of the following FACT:
$200,000 says no one can find the word HIJAB mentioned in the Quran describing covering the head of a Muslim woman in any way shape or form!
Muslim MALES have been imposing this draconian rule through the use of TERROR and FORCE for the last 1400 years
Can any Muslim (1,500,000,000) take up my challenge?
IQ al Rassooli
Kafir & Proud!
gravenimage says
The word Hijab is not mentioned, but then, neither is Chador, Niqab, or Burqa.
Women are threatened to cover up in the Qur’an, though.
Save Europe says
Completely accurate. Interestingly, if I’m not mistaken it was as a result of the Proph’s first wife, Khadija wearing little clothing, which ‘encouraged’ him to merely write about wearing modest clothing. People assume the niqab and burka came from Saudi, but it was actually Turkey.
Peter says
Don’t forget that the mothers and grandmothers of these women gladly put on the hijab when the Shah was deposed at Khomeini came to power. Hopefully Trump will engage, unlike Obama who sold out the last revolt (including the “liberal” values he professed to stand for).
gravenimage says
They did not all do so gladly–but they did it.
Master says
Iranian men are women are so handsome and pretty. It is a shame that those beautiful women have to cover their head with the hijab.
gravenimage says
It’s a shame that any woman is unable to feel the sun and wind on her hair.
Older Canadian says
“Dress code remains in place outside of the capital”
So what are they saying? Absolutely nothing.
Not worth the paper it is printed on, or the energy to spit out the words.
Hope the “People” tell them to shove it, inside and outside the capital.
Older Canadian says
PS
Forgot to state:
No woman anywhere should be forced to go through life without ever feeling the wind in her hair.
gravenimage says
+1
roberta says
Police also wont arrest the men that beat and kill them over not wearing the head dress.
Wait and see. Honor kill at your will.
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
“Iran: Tehran police say they’ll no longer arrest women for violating the Islamic dress code.”
No. They’ll just shoot them on sight from now on.
gravenimage says
Iran: Tehran police say they’ll no longer arrest women for violating the Islamic dress code
…………………………..
If this proves to be the case, it means the Mullahs are *backing down*! How I hope this is so.
Thomas Kimball says
Nope it’s just Islamic BS, the “men” will do the enforcement ie: beat the hell out of the woman who don’t comply with the status quo! But if their actually were hundreds of thousands protesting this might actually go somewhere if we can get arms to the right people!
Oliver says
To Mr Kimbell
Arms to the right people.
Are those who parade and scream ” Death to America
Death to Israel?
Or are the right people not parading but agreeing with the marchers?
Just asking.
I would not trust any of them, either side
valerie summer says
They may not be arrested, but they will surely be attacked by the local Sharia Patrol.
Carolyne says
Years ago, shortly after Jimmy Carter double-crossed the Shah of Iran and helped install the Islamic Republic, I read a book written by a man named Thompson Sorry can’t recall his first name.) He had been to post revolutionary Iran and questioned the “Man on the street” about its benefits. The most important thing most of them could think of was it got women off TV. I thought how sad that they went through all this with no tangible benefit except that some TV readers lost their jobs. I also remember a spokesman for the Revolutionary forces who had been educated in the US. He often spoke in support of the revolution, but one day we heard he had been executed as an agent of the US.
These people are animals. Thank you, Mr. Obama, for giving them our tax money to carry out their barbarian terrorism.
Del says
Meanwhile in Canada, Trudeau, his NCCM controlled Liberal Cabinet, and the NDP are encouraging and strongly support the niqab mask. Quebec intends to ban all face masks which just happen to include those that Muslim females are forced to wear.
Older Canadian says
Yes. Trudeau the feminist.
He totally supports that a muslim woman must live her entire life without ever feeling the wind in her hair, or the sun on her face.
Heck even most so called progressive non-muslim women support this brutal attire and call it solitarity.
The muslim brotherhood has united-in-hate the so-called leftist progressives, male and female extremely well.