Hijab in Iran

After the Arab conquest of Iran in the 7th century, Islam became the dominant religion and culture in the country. Since then Iranian women adopted the hijab, which was a simple scarf that covered the hair and neck, but not the face.^[1] Hijab was seen as a symbol of piety, dignity, and identity for Muslim women.^[2]

The Safavid dynasty centralized Iran and declared Shia Islam as the official religion, which led to the widespread adoption of hijab by women in the country. Shia Islam served as a tool for the Safavids to consolidate the diverse ethnic groups under their authority and to differentiate themselves from their Sunni Muslim adversaries.^[3] Women continued to wear hijab as a prevalent fashion trend during the Qajar era, but they also became more acquainted with and inspired by European fashions and materials. The two Pahlavi eras (1925-1979) were marked by significant changes in the hijab and women's dress in Iran, reflecting the influence of Westernization, modernization, and political movements. The first Pahlavi era, under Reza Shah (1925-1941), was characterized by the forced unveiling of women, known as Kashf-e hijab, as part of the regime's attempt to secularize and modernize the country. Women who resisted the ban on hijab faced harassment, violence, and imprisonment.^[4] The second Pahlavi era, under Mohammad Reza Shah (1941-1979), was more tolerant of women’s choice of clothing, but also encouraged Western styles and fabrics, especially among the urban elite. Women wore a variety of dresses, skirts, pants, suits, and coats, often made of silk, velvet, or brocade. They also wore hijab in different forms, such as scarves, hats, or veils, depending on their personal, religious, or political preferences.^[5]

Following the 1979 revolution, hijab became a compulsory dress code for women by the new regime. Since then, women have been required to wear the hijab, or face harassment and legal consequences. This has sparked many movements and protests by activists who challenge the mandatory hijab and seek more freedom and rights for women. However, they have also encountered harassment and oppression by the authorities and conservative groups. This compulsion caused several social movements and protests across the country to fight back, some examples of the movements is white Tuesday or women, life, freedom movement.