‘Hijab Cannot Be Imposed by Force’: Fatemeh Mohajerani, Iranian Spokesperson
New Age Islam News Bureau
23 october 2025
· ‘Hijab Cannot Be Imposed by Force’: Fatemeh Mohajerani, Iranian Spokesperson
· Who Was Mahsa Amini, Who Was Allegedly Beaten To Death For Breaking Iran’s Hijab Law
· Gulf Female Leaders Unite To Address Yemen’s War And Its Toll On Women
· CAIR Welcomes Swiss Government’s Rejection Of Ban On Hijab In Schools
· Football Tournament Featuring Afghanistan Women's Refugee Team Moved To Morocco
· Syria's Struggle: Women's Fight For Political Inclusivity Amidst Cosmetic Reforms
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/hijab-force-iranian-spokesperson/d/137357
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‘Hijab Cannot Be Imposed by Force’: Fatemeh Mohajerani, Iranian Spokesperson
OCTOBER 22, 2025
“The president has repeatedly said hijab cannot be imposed by force, just as it could not be removed by force,” Mohajerani said
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Iran’s government spokesperson said on Tuesday that hijab cannot be imposed by force, days after officials announced the deployment of more than 80,000 enforcement agents.
Fatemeh Mohajerani said force cannot bring hijab back to Iranians.
“The president has repeatedly said hijab cannot be imposed by force, just as it could not be removed by force,” Mohajerani said.
She said mosques could be used to promote respect for hijab laws under the government’s “neighborhood-centric” approach.
Four days earlier, Rouhollah Momennasab, secretary of Tehran Province’s Headquarters for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, said the force will include thousands of trainers and judicial officers who will conduct surveillance in schools, public spaces, universities, and online.
“With 80,000 trained forces across the province, a major transformation in implementing chastity and hijab policies will take place,” Momennasab said at a news conference.
He called on citizens to join a “people’s observers headquarters” to participate in the monitoring effort.
Momennasab said the situation room will track and analyze cultural and media activities in society, with enforcement strategies communicated to government agencies.
He said cooperation with the prosecutor’s office and cyber police will enable “more precise monitoring of social media content.”
The system will allow citizen informants to report content creators and distributors whose material authorities deem to violate social norms, with legal action to follow, he said.
The announcement comes more than three years after the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died in police custody after being detained for allegedly violating hijab rules.
Her death in September 2022 sparked nationwide protests under the slogan Woman, Life, Freedom.
Source: iranwire.com
https://iranwire.com/en/women/145743-hijab-cannot-be-imposed-by-force-says-iranian-government-spokesperson/
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Who Was Mahsa Amini, Who Was Allegedly Beaten To Death For Breaking Iran’s Hijab Law
October 23, 2025
Know Mahsa Amini, who was allegedly beaten to death for breaking Iran’s Hijab law
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Mahsa Amini: In September 2022, Mahsa Amini was arrested by the Guidance Patrol Police on her visit to Tehran from Saqqez. The possible reason for her arrest is her improper wearing of the hijab, which breaks the compulsory Hijab law of Iran.
According to the media reports, this led to the severe beating of Amini by the patrol officers, which resulted in her death after three days of beating in the hospital. However, the Guidance Patrol forces and the responsible authorities of Iran denied these claims. The death of Mahsa resulted in widespread protests throughout the country, which were led by female protestors, including school children.
Who was Mahsa Amini?
Mahsa Amini was almost 23 years of age when she passed away. The woman was born on September 21, 1999, and died in the custody of the patrol officials on September 16, 2022. Mahsa was a young and ambitious lady who was about to start her studies at the university in late 2022.
How was Amini detained, which led to her killing?
On September 13, Amini was detained by Gasht-e Ershad for wearing improper clothing. During this time, she was accompanied by her brother on a visit to Tehran, who was told that Mahsa would be taken to a detention centre for not wearing the correct public attire and would be given the corrective class. Some eyewitnesses and women reported that Amini was severely beaten by the authorities in an attempt to cease her arrest.
On the same day, in the evening at the centre, the woman collapsed and was taken to a hospital, where she passed away after three days.
What was the public reaction?
The death of Mahsa Amini sparked protests by the women. Several Kurdish women assembled at Amini’s funeral and loudly shouted, “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî”, which means Woman, Life, Freedom.
Many women went ahead to remove their headscarves, and the protests took a serious turn. However, the exact cause of Mahsa’s death is still not known.
Source: india.com
https://www.india.com/news/world/know-mahsa-amini-who-was-allegedly-beaten-to-death-for-breaking-iran-hijab-law-update-8145095/
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Gulf Female Leaders Unite To Address Yemen’s War And Its Toll On Women
WAAD HUSSAIN
October 22, 2025
ALKHOBAR: Women parliamentarians, diplomats and rights advocates from the Gulf, the Middle East and Europe met in an online forum on Tuesday to discuss the humanitarian and political impact of Yemen’s ongoing conflict and the role of women leaders in shaping peacebuilding efforts.
The online meeting, organized by Forward Thinking, a London-based nongovernmental organization specializing in political dialogue and mediation across the Gulf-Middle East and North Africa region, was part of its Women for a Sustainable Future network.
The session, held under the Chatham House Rule, focused on the gendered consequences of the war in Yemen and explored how female parliamentarians can contribute to inclusive recovery efforts.
Speakers included Yemeni experts Ousan Mohammed Saeed Ali, head of the Women’s Department in the Supreme Council of the Popular Resistance; Dr. Nabila Ghaleb, founder of the Fekrah Foundation for Media Rights for Women; and Areej Rashid Thabet Al-Nabhi, a rights activist working with victims’ families.
Dr. Huda Al-Helaissi, former member of Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council, told Arab News afterward that the forum served to bring “issues of importance to global attention via its varied participants and international parliamentarians.”
She explained that its goal was to “give access and voices to suffering people, especially women, who cannot reach the West.”
Reflecting on the discussion, Al-Helaissi added that the meeting brought to the forefront the reality of the “distress and heartbreaking poverty” facing Yemenis and the particular “burden” endured by women.
After over a decade of conflict, more than 18 million people in Yemen are in need of assistance, and women and girls face heightened risks of displacement, food insecurity and gender-based violence.
Established in 2018, the Women for a Sustainable Future network brings together female parliamentarians, government officials, and experts from across the Gulf-MENA region and Europe.
Its members include representatives from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt, Jordan, Sweden, and the UK. The initiative promotes cross-regional collaboration to tackle issues such as climate change, economic instability, and social inequality.
Through regular meetings, both in person and online, the network creates a platform for women leaders to exchange knowledge and develop policy recommendations that can be implemented within their national parliaments.
Forward Thinking serves as the convenor of the network and maintains partnerships with institutions, including the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the World Health Organization.
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2619861/saudi-arabia
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CAIR Welcomes Swiss Government’s Rejection of Ban on Hijab in Schools
October 22, 2025
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the government of Switzerland’s rejection of a ban on hijab, or Islamic headscarves, in schools.
In a statement, Washington, D.C., based CAIR said:
“We stand in solidarity with the Swiss Muslim community, and we welcome the government’s decision to reject a discriminatory ban on hijab in schools. This decision affirms the fundamental right of religious expression. Freedom of religion includes the right to wear religious attire without fear of repression or marginalization.”
In 2023, CAIR condemned a decision by Switzerland’s lower house of parliament to ban the wearing of the face veil, often called the niqab or burqa, sometimes worn by Muslim women.
Yesterday, CAIR called on Portugal’s parliament to reject an Islamophobic bill that would ban the wearing of the face veil.
In August, CAIR condemned as ‘discriminatory and authoritarian’ a proposal announced by Austria’s integration minister to ban Islamic head scarves, or hijab, for girls under the age of 14.
Earlier this year, CAIR said that Islamophobia is “spinning out of control” in Europe after a Muslim woman was murdered in Germany and a mosque was burned during anti-immigrant riots in Spain.
CAIR also condemned the attempted arson of a Muslim prayer room in Châtillon-sur-Seine, France.
Source: cair.com
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-welcomes-swiss-governments-rejection-of-ban-on-hijab-in-schools/
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Football tournament featuring Afghanistan women's refugee team moved to Morocco
23 October, 2025
A tournament that included a team of refugee women's football players from Afghanistan has been moved to Morocco and shifted to later this week, FIFA confirmed Wednesday.
The tournament, dubbed FIFA Unites: Women’s Series 2025, was originally set for Dubai starting on Thursday, and was to include Chad, Libya and the host United Arab Emirates.
The revised tournament will start Sunday and will include the refugee team, Chad, Tunisia and Libya. FIFA, soccer's global governing body and the organizer of the event, did not give a reason for the move.
In Australia, where many members of the refugee team were based, there were media reports that the players were unable to obtain visas to the UAE.
Afghanistan has not played an official women’s competitive game since 2018, and the return to power of the Taliban regime in 2021 shut down women’s sport. The Afghan soccer federation has obligations under FIFA statutes to avoid discrimination, though it has not been suspended from international soccer.
While the players have fought for official recognition, the FIFA-supported refugee team cannot yet officially represent Afghanistan in World Cup qualifying.
In a statement, FIFA reiterated "its continued commitment to the ongoing implementation of the wider FIFA Strategy for Action for Afghan Women’s Football that was approved by the FIFA Council in May 2025, which includes the organization of - and extensive support - being provided to female Afghan players during the selection process and preparation prior to the FIFA Unites Women’s Series 2025.''
FIFA said the refugee players who fled Afghanistan and have settled in other countries have chosen the team name Afghan Women United.
Tunisia is ranked 96th in the world, while Chad and Libya do not yet have a FIFA ranking.
All games at the round-robin tournament will be broadcast live on FIFA's in-house streaming platform.
Source: newarab.com
https://www.newarab.com/news/afghanistan-womens-refugee-team-play-morocco-tournament
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Syria's Struggle: Women's Fight for Political Inclusivity Amidst Cosmetic Reforms
23-10-2025
In Syria's latest parliamentary elections, women's participation remained overwhelmingly low, with only six women securing seats in the 210-member body. The exclusion of women was evident in the election's structure, which sidelined female representation and echoed a long-standing pattern of marginalization.
Under President Ahmed al-Sharaa's new regime, Syria was purportedly moving towards democracy. However, the elections were tightly controlled by the Supreme Judicial Committee for Elections, dominated by male officials, further contributing to the exclusion of women.
To combat these entrenched patterns, experts suggest implementing institutional reforms, such as gender quotas and transparent electoral processes, to allow women better access to political roles and influence. Without these changes, Syria's democratic facade remains threatened by inequality and exclusion.
Source: devdiscourse.com
https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/3671505-syrias-struggle-womens-fight-for-political-inclusivity-amidst-cosmetic-reforms
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Fact Check: No, Iran Has Not Repealed Its Hijab Ban
23 October 2025
Iran hijab law is in the news, again. Less than a month after the three year anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini, reports have emerged that Iran had on October 4, 2025 lifted its hijab ban. However, However, according to AFP, Iran has not formally repealed the law even though it may have relaxed its enforcement.
“Women in Iran are increasingly testing the boundaries of the country's strict Islamic dress code but a law requiring women to wear the hijab remains in force, according to rights groups and a government spokesman,” reports AFP Fact Check.
According to AFP, the false claim started on a Chinese-language social media site wherein posts cited an Iranian government advisor who said in October 2025 there was "no mandatory law regarding hijab"; he later walked back those remarks and said head coverings must be worn.
AFP is referring to statements made on October 4, 2025 by Mohammadreza Bahonar, a conservative member of Iran's Expediency Discernment Council. Bahonar suggested that the law was "not legally enforceable," but later walked back his comments. After he received backlash from the fundamentalists within Iran, Bahonar has since retracted his statements and said that women in Iran must wear a hijab.
Iran’s legal requirement that women wear the hijab in public can be found in its Islamic Penal Code in Article 638. This remains on the country’s law books and has not struck down by any official government decree or legislation.
There are sporadic reports that the law’s enforcement varies across the country, and is somewhat relaxed in major urban areas like Tehran, while remaining strict in the smaller towns. The inconsistency of the enforcement has also led to women living in uncertainity.
In the last months of 2024, Iran suspended the implementation of its “Chastity and Hijab” law. The Iranian Supreme National Security Council, which had brought in the stricter punishments and penalties for non-compliance, most likely stopped its enforcement to avoid more public protests.
Protests against the hijab laws have included the "Girls of Enghelab Street" movement in 2017, which were inspired by a woman who removed her hijab. And, in 2022 the Mahsa Amini protests, which turned into a movement and demanded the end of the Islamic Republic.
Amini, 22, was arrested and allegedly killed by Iran’s Guidance Patrol Police on her visit to Tehran for breaking the country’s mandatory hijab law for women by improperly wearing her hijab.
In Outlook’s April 21, 2023 issue titled Iran, explored the death of Amini and how it ignited women-led protests in the country which defied the Iranian regime by cutting their hair publicly and walking without hijabs. Several women have lost their lives in months of protests. The issue is a homage to those who died and the ongoing women's movement in the country.
Within the issue, Seema Guha, Outlook’s Foreign Affairs Editor, wrote on how even after the mass protests may have discontinued in Iran, but women continue to resist silently in their own ways in An Unfolding Story Of Silent Rebellion Across Iran's Streets
In Women! Life! Freedom, Elnaz Sarbar Boczek peered into the resounding slogan that had become the rallying cry of the largest women’s rights movement in Iran’s history.
Navid Zarrinnal wrote on the imposition of Western morality in Iran and the Global South in Iran And Regime Change Amid Imposition Of Western Morality
The issue also explored the Iranian film industry’s portrayal of women in cinema over the decades through GP Ramachandran’s Beyond The Purdah Of Censorship and Abhik Bhattacharya’s interview with filmmaker with Mohsen Makhmalbaf in Hope Is Alive In Iran, Says Filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf.
Source: outlookindia.com
https://www.outlookindia.com/international/fact-check-no-iran-has-not-repealed-its-hijab-ban
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/hijab-force-iranian-spokesperson/d/137357