Hijab Laws and Human Rights: Challenging the IRGC’s Gender Control System

In Iran, the mandatory hijab is not simply a piece of clothing—it is a tool of political control, rooted in the broader ideology of state-enforced gender hierarchy. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has played a central role in upholding, enforcing, and violently defending the Islamic Republic’s interpretation of Islamic dress codes, particularly for women. This enforcement is part of a wider system of gender-based oppression, in which women’s bodies and behavior are tightly monitored to preserve the regime’s control.

The IRGC, through its affiliated forces—including the Basij militia and morality police—has created an environment where non-compliance with hijab laws leads to arrest, harassment, imprisonment, and in many cases, torture or death. The tragic killing of Mahsa Amini in September 2022, after being detained for “improper hijab,” sparked a nationwide uprising, with the slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” capturing the global imagination.

This analysis explores:

 • The origins and enforcement of hijab laws in Iran

 • The IRGC’s role in enforcing gender control

 • The legal and human rights violations tied to these laws

 • The resistance led by Iranian women and girls

 • The international response and why global pressure matters

1. The Origins of Hijab Laws in Iran

A. Post-Revolution Gender Ideology

After the 1979 revolution, Iran’s new Islamic government quickly moved to impose Islamic codes of behavior across all areas of life. By 1981, mandatory hijab laws were enacted, requiring all women to cover their hair and bodies in public, regardless of their religion or personal beliefs.

The hijab became:

 • A symbol of Islamic identity

 • A marker of political loyalty

 • A legal obligation, not a personal or religious choice

B. Legal Framework

The Islamic Penal Code criminalizes “improper hijab” and vaguely defines it, allowing security forces to interpret and apply it arbitrarily. Penalties include:

 • Fines

 • Imprisonment

 • Lashings (under previous codes)

 • Public shaming

2. The IRGC’s Role in Enforcing Hijab Laws

A. A Military-Enforced Morality System

The IRGC, created to defend the Islamic system, became the regime’s primary tool of domestic control. It operates intelligence networks, patrols, and cyber surveillance systems, ensuring ideological conformity—including on gender issues.

The Basij, a paramilitary force under the IRGC, has been central in:

 • Street patrols targeting women’s dress

 • Assaulting women in public spaces

 • Monitoring schools, universities, and even workplaces

The morality police, though technically under the regular police, coordinate with IRGC intelligence, and have been emboldened by the IRGC’s backing.

B. Surveillance and Cyber Enforcement

With the rise of social media, the IRGC shifted to digital enforcement:

 • Tracking women’s online activity

 • Arresting influencers for not wearing hijab in videos

 • Hacking phones and accounts

 • Launching smear campaigns against activists

3. Human Rights Violations Tied to Hijab Enforcement

A. Arbitrary Detention and Torture

Countless women have been arrested for minor dress code violations. Many report:

 • Beatings during arrest

 • Solitary confinement

 • Verbal and physical abuse

 • Coerced confessions

Mahsa Amini’s death revealed the fatal consequences of this system. Her killing was not an anomaly—it was the inevitable outcome of a policy rooted in coercion and violence.

B. Gender Apartheid in Law and Practice

Beyond hijab enforcement, the IRGC supports laws that:

 • Deny women equal rights in marriage, divorce, and custody

 • Ban women from attending certain sports events

 • Restrict access to jobs in leadership roles

These practices violate multiple international agreements, including:

 • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

 • The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

• The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), though Iran is not a signatory

C. Targeting of Activists

Prominent women like Nasrin Sotoudeh, Narges Mohammadi, and Sepideh Gholian have been imprisoned, tortured, and harassed for speaking out against compulsory hijab laws and broader IRGC repression.

4. Women-Led Resistance and the Fight for Autonomy

A. The “Women, Life, Freedom” Movement

Following Mahsa Amini’s death, millions of women and girls took to the streets, often unveiling in public—a defiant act punishable by law.

Students, mothers, artists, athletes, and even schoolgirls joined the movement. Protesters chanted:

 • “Death to the dictator!”

 • “We don’t want forced hijab!”

 • “This is a women’s revolution!”

B. Everyday Resistance

Women continue to resist through:

 • Refusing to wear the hijab in public

 • Sharing photos and videos online

 • Supporting one another through solidarity networks

 • Organizing underground education and support groups

Even amid crackdowns, their acts of resistance persist—a quiet but powerful revolution.

5. International Response and the Need for Global Pressure

A. Condemnation and Sanctions

Several countries and organizations have responded:

 • The EU and UK sanctioned IRGC officials after the 2022 crackdown

 • The UN condemned the use of force against protesters

 • Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and others have documented abuses and called for accountability

B. The Case for Terrorist Designation

The IRGC has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States. Advocacy groups are urging the EU, Canada, and others to follow suit, based on:

 • Its systematic use of violence against civilians

 • Its role in gender-based oppression

 • Its support for proxy terror groups abroad

C. Role of the Diaspora and Civil Society

The Iranian diaspora has led:

 • Global protests in cities like Paris, Berlin, and Toronto

 • Advocacy campaigns like #WomenLifeFreedom

 • Lobbying for legal action against IRGC crimes

The fight against mandatory hijab is now part of a global human rights cause.

Conclusion: Hijab as a Symbol of Control—and Defiance

In Iran today, the hijab is no longer a simple religious garment. It is a political weapon wielded by the IRGC to maintain state control, silence women, and assert ideological dominance.

But it has also become a symbol of resistance. Women who remove it in defiance, knowing the risks, are making a powerful political statement: they refuse to be controlled.

As long as the IRGC continues its campaign of gender-based repression, Iran cannot be free. A free Iran will be one where women can choose, speak, and lead—without fear of arrest, torture, or death.