Bold ‘Super-Revolutionaries’ Take a Stand Against Khamenei’s Hijab Mandate

In recent developments, Iranian conservatives, who are positioned even further to the right than Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei himself, have become increasingly vocal in their demands to enforce a new, restrictive hijab law. This legislation, which has faced delays for several months, has sparked significant debate and concern among various factions within the country.

During a speech on Saturday, Khamenei notably sidestepped a question posed by an ultra-hardline lawmaker regarding the stalled hijab law. The situation became tense when Mohammad-Taghi Naghdali, the lawmaker in question, attempted to approach Khamenei for clarification. However, Khamenei’s security team quickly intervened, escorting Naghdali back into the audience.

The proposed morality legislation aims to impose severe penalties, including hefty fines and imprisonment, on women who fail to adhere to strict hijab requirements, as well as on businesses that do not comply. Implementing such laws in the current socio-political climate could potentially ignite widespread protests against the government.

In a surprising turn of events, lawmaker Mahmoud Nabavian from the ultra-hardline Paydari Party publicly distanced himself from what he termed “radicals” within their ranks. This came in response to recent protests staged by vigilante hardliners outside the Parliament. Nabavian expressed concern that these radical elements were exacerbating societal divisions and inciting opposition to the mandatory hijab. He stated, “Calling for nationwide protests over [the imposition of hijab] aligns with the enemy’s plans to incite unrest in the country.” More importantly, he highlighted that these radicals are utilizing social media to drag Khamenei into the controversy surrounding the hijab law.

Khamenei has noticeably refrained from discussing the hijab issue during his recent speeches, including a significant address to an all-female audience on December 17. However, in April 2023, he made a strong declaration, labeling the disregard for hijab as “religiously and politically haram (forbidden).” In that same address, he accused foreign intelligence agencies of encouraging Iranian women to disobey the mandatory hijab laws.

Currently, expressions of dissatisfaction from vigilante groups towards Khamenei are subtle and often circulated on domestic social media platforms, such as Eitaa, which is favored by ultra-hardliners. Earlier this week, a small group of female vigilantes organized a rally in Qom, a religious city, outside the office of Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi-Amoli. This prominent grand ayatollah was recently commended by Khamenei for his scholarly contributions. The speaker at the rally criticized senior clerics for their silence regarding the delayed enforcement of the hijab law. Such direct critiques of high-ranking clerics, particularly those aligned with state ideology, are rare and considered highly inappropriate.

A social media post that criticized Khamenei anonymously for the Supreme National Security Council’s (SNSC) decision to postpone the controversial hijab law has caused quite a stir. Some of Khamenei’s loyal supporters shared this post, viewing it as an act of disrespect toward the Supreme Leader. It is essential to note that while the SNSC is chaired by the President, its decisions require Khamenei’s approval to take effect.

Vigilante groups, often labeled as “super-revolutionaries” by rival hardliners, maintain strong connections with the ultra-hardline Paydari Party. This faction has been instrumental in drafting the controversial hijab law and supports former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, their favored candidate in the upcoming snap elections in June.

Despite their claimed loyalty to Khamenei, ultra-hardliners are known to strongly support Mohammad-Mehdi Mirbagheri, a mid-ranking cleric recognized for his extreme views on religious and political matters, particularly regarding the hijab. Small contingents of vigilantes have conducted protests following Friday prayers on multiple occasions in recent months. A group of about a dozen women even staged a sit-in outside the Parliament, constructing makeshift shelters to demand the enforcement of the hijab law. Their protests escalated this week as hundreds were transported from other cities to join the demonstrations outside Parliament. Notably, unlike previous political protests, security forces did not intervene to disperse the approximately 1,500 protesters who gathered on Tuesday.

The increasing assertiveness of these vigilante groups has raised alarms even among conservative factions. The conservative Tabnak news website criticized the “super-revolutionary Paydari associates” for their uncompromising stance on the hijab law. They warned that such actions are “striving to create new challenges for the administration and, perhaps, from an analytical and in-depth perspective, exert pressure on the governance.” In Iranian political discussions, the term “governance” is often used to refer indirectly to Khamenei and the policies he imposes on top officials.

As the debate over the hijab law continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the government will address the increasing pressure from ultra-hardliners and vigilante groups, as well as the broader implications for civil society in Iran.