Over 7 thousand supporters of the hijab have held marches in various
Iranian cities in support of this particular item of clothing amongst
Islamic cultures, Trend reports, citing Iran information agency Fars.
Hijab wasn’t obligatory in Iran until the revolution of 1979.
Ayatollah Khomeini introduced harsh Islamic laws into the everyday
life of the society. Hijab became obligatory for all women, regardless
of their religion, including foreigners. However, modern youth neglect
the rules, RIA Novosti reports.
Hijab (from Arab ‘covering’) came to Iran after 7th century Arabian
conquests. Hijab is understood as a code of rules for women. Some
Muslim countries have additional national elements of clothes: the
Iranian yashmak, the Arab niqab and the Afghan burkha, for example.
Besides Tehran, marches took place in Meshed, Urmia, Sari and Rey.
School students, cultural workers of state organizations and the
Basizh Womens Militia, part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
(IRGC – Iran's elite armed forces units) participated in the march.
They also demanded western countries stop infringing Muslim rights,
forbidding Hijab and other Muslim traditions.
Last Friday, the Iranian authorities spoke out in support of Muslims
in France, mainly Arab and Afghani immigrants.
In January, a special commission of the French Parliament proposed
forbidding head-covering in educational institutions, hospitals,
public transport and state institutions. In the future they may fully
forbid women to walk in the streets with their face covered, by not
issuing working visas and permits to live in France. scarves have been
forbidden in France since 2004.
The French Council of Ministers will discuss the bill in May. The
ruling party and Nicola Sarcozy support the bill, saying that this
issue humiliates women. The government says that approximately 2000
women cover their face France.
