10 years jail for breaching dress code in Iran

Iranian Assembly has passed a bill to toughen penalties for women who flout the Islamic dress code, with jail terms of up to 10 years.

On Wednesday, the assembly approved ‘the 'Support for the Culture of Hijab and Chastity’ bill for a trial period of three years.

The bill still requires approval by the Guardian Council.

Under the draft law, women failing to wear a headscarf or appropriate clothing, “in cooperation with foreign or hostile governments, media, groups or organisations”, could face five to 10 years' prison.

Women in Iran have since last year's mass protests been increasingly flouting the Islamic republic's strict dress code that requires head coverings and modest clothes.

The demonstrations broke out after the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for allegedly breaching the dress code.

Hundreds of people were killed, including dozens of security personnel, and thousands arrested over what officials labelled foreign-instigated "riots".

Covering the head and neck has been compulsory for women in Iran since the republic's early years following the 1979 Islamic revolution.