Growing numbers of Iranian women are defying the country's modesty dress code by wearing midriff-baring tops and short skirts in public, AFP reported Friday (local time).
In the capital Tehran, women have been spotted going beyond simply removing their hijabs — appearing in crop tops, sleeveless shirts and ripped jeans.
Fariya Senyari, 47, who runs a clothing shop in central Tehran, said she had spent decades catering exclusively to customers accustomed to modest dress but has recently begun stocking crop tops and short skirts to attract younger shoppers.
"You can no longer force the new generation to wear the hijab," she said. "The new generation wants freedom."
Iran has enforced strict dress codes for women since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, requiring them to cover their hair and neck.
The shift in women's fashion began after the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old who died in custody after being arrested by authorities for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly.
Enforcement of the dress code has particularly loosened since the war with the United States intensified economic and political pressure and sent the cost of living soaring.
Niyusha (a pseudonym), 57, who works at a jewelry store, said authorities appeared to be turning a blind eye to dress-code violations to avoid large-scale protests and unrest.
Despite the visible shift in how women dress, Iran's dress-code regulations remain officially in force, and conservative backlash is growing.
In practice, Iranian authorities announced Tuesday that they had arrested several people in central Tehran for allegedly encouraging women to abandon the hijab and expose their bodies in public.
Lawmaker Hassan Ali Akhlagi Amiri said claims that the hijab law had been abolished were "completely false" and urged the government to take measures to enforce it.
Senyari said that while the freedom to dress more openly was spreading, she still displays long coats in her shop window. "We can't even put short skirts on the mannequins," she said. "We hope these restrictions will be lifted entirely."
husn7@heraldcorp.com
