Iranian women defy restrictions to embrace clothing freedom
Iranian women in Tehran are increasingly wearing crop tops and short skirts in public, defying the strict dress code. Shop owners adapt to younger customers, but authorities still enforce hijab rules, making arrests and warning against the trend. The shift follows the 2022 protests over Mahsa Amini's death and has accelerated amid economic and political pressures.
Iranian women in Tehran are increasingly wearing crop tops, short skirts, and other revealing clothing in public, defying the strict dress code imposed after the 1979 Islamic revolution. Shop owner Pariya Senyari, 47, says she now stocks these items to attract younger customers, noting that the new generation cannot be forced to wear headscarves. Adherence to hijab rules has become more sporadic since the 2022 protests following Mahsa Amini's death in custody. The shift has accelerated amid economic pressure and wars with the US and Israel. However, compulsory hijab rules remain in force, and authorities recently arrested several people in central Tehran for promoting hijab abandonment. Some shop owners and women remain cautious, keeping conservative displays or hiding their online work from authorities. The article quotes multiple sources, including a jewelry store worker who says authorities are turning a blind eye to avoid unrest, and a clothing shop owner who believes modesty standards should be observed.