Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said that observing the wearing of the hijab was now a matter of a legal nature in the midst of widespread anti-government protests. The comments also follow video footage of a man attacking two women who were not wearing a hijab with yogurt.
In televised remarks, Raisi said that wearing the hijab was a “legal matter” at a time of anti-government protests that have been taking place since September. The demonstrations were triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, who was detained by the morality police for allegedly flouting the Islamic dress code for women. More and more women have defiantly removed their veils during the demonstrations and are widely seen without their hijabs in public.
“If some people say they don’t believe…it’s good to use persuasion…But the important point is that there is a legal requirement…and the hijab today is a legal matter,” said Raisi.
Raisi’s comments followed an incident that was recorded on video and shared on social media of two women who were not wearing their veils entering a shop. A man was soon shown approaching the women and talking to them. The man later picked up the pot of yogurt and poured the contents over their heads.
Judicial authorities have since ordered the arrest of the two women for flouting the dress code by not wearing their veils, according to state media. The Iranian judiciary’s Mizan Online website said that authorities have also issued an arrest warrant for the man “on charges of committing an insulting act and disturbance of order.”
The authorities said that the owner of the shop who confronted the man was also warned. Reports circulating on social media also said that the shop was closed, but according to local media, the man said he was allowed to reopen his shop and was set to “give explanations” to a court.
Tehran has sought to blame Iran’s foreign adversaries, like the West and Israel, for the current unrest.
Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant, during a visit to an army brigade at the West Bank, warned against interference from Iran and the Iran-backed militia group Hezbollah. Gallant’s comments come amidst tensions between Israel and Palestine as well as in Syria.
“We will not allow the Iranians and Hezbollah to harm us. We have not allowed it in the past, we won’t allow it now, or anytime in the future,” said Gallant.