News Center — The debate in Iran over the mandatory hijab law, imposed since 1979, continues. More than half of the members of parliament have criticized the judiciary, accusing it of being “lenient” in enforcing the law. But behind these accusations, it becomes clear that the issue is no longer merely a legal discussion, but a daily battle fought by women in defense of their right to choice and personal freedom.

Since the 2022 protests following the death of the young woman Jina Amini while in custody for an “improper hijab,” the hijab issue has transformed into a symbol of women’s resistance against the oppression imposed on their bodies and lives.

The demand made by 155 MPs on Tuesday, December 2, calling on the head of the judiciary to tighten punishments, reflects the political establishment’s insistence on denying a new social reality in which increasing numbers of women refuse to submit to a law that restricts their basic freedoms. Meanwhile, the conservative parliament seeks to revive tools of repression by imposing harsher penalties, exposing the deep divide between the authorities and the public.

The recent punitive measures—such as shutting down cafés and restaurants under the pretext of not enforcing the hijab or serving prohibited drinks—reveal that the authorities are using economic and social pressure to control society. Yet they are failing to stop the wave of change led by women.

The issue is no longer simply about “observing the hijab,” but an open struggle between a state seeking to control women’s bodies and women demanding their right to freedom and dignity. The parliament’s insistence on harsher punishments reflects a fear of losing control, while the streets of Tehran and other major cities clearly show that women have chosen the path of freedom—and they will not turn back.