Iranian state will get others to enforce dress code

Significance

As women push the boundaries of the dress code, the government is adopting a two-pronged strategy. It is shifting responsibility for hijab (Islamic dress) compliance onto the private sector, and threatening discriminatory exclusion as a penalty, such as denying women access to services if they break the rules.

Impacts

• Physical confrontations between police and those defying hijab rules will lessen as the focus shifts to institutional compliance.
• The duties and structure of police forces will change to accommodate the new direction of enforcement.
• Employees with no power over compliance with hijab rules will lose their jobs if their firms are closed.