Maryam Hosseinkhah

Thirty-Five Years of Forced Hijab Maryam Hosseinkhah

Thirty-five Years of Forced Hijab: The Widespread and Systematic Violation of Women's Rights in Iran points out over the past ten years more than 30,000 women have faced arrest throughout Iran due to hijab laws. It also shows how a high number of women are not only exposed to insult, harassment and physical abuse at the hands of the authorities, but that they also face detention and various forms of torture, including lashing. The report documents over past 35 years many women have been deprived of education, employment, driving, travelling by air, access to public medical services as well as cultural and recreational facilities because of their hijab. The report describes the process of arrest and prosecution of women based on the charge of improper Islamic hijab and unjust sentences. It also presents an overview of the psychological abuse where in some cases women have faced death or suicide. However, it also highlights an important historical fact that despite 35 years of violent enforcement measures, Iranian women continue to resist Hijab laws and through their daily struggles.