Nine Iranian political activists and intellectuals have condemned the Islamic Republic's enforcement of mandatory headscarf law, calling it a "major social, political and security issue."
"Compulsory hijab lacks any basis or justification, not only from an intellectual standpoint but also under the framework of traditional Sharia law which the Islamic government claims to adhere to," they said in a joint statement.
The text is signed by Seddiqeh Vasmaghi, Zahra Rahnavard, Hashem Aghajari, Nasrin Sotoudeh, Farhad Meysami, Lotfullah Meysami, Alieh Motalebzadeh, Mustafa Malekian and Naser Zarafshan.
"We condemn the double oppression inflicted upon half of society through the imposition of compulsory hijab," the signatories said, calling for the relevant law.
"However, it is astonishing that despite the majority's opposition, the government has intensified its violent measures against women and, worse yet, seeks to evade responsibility for these actions through deceit and lies," they added.
The statement characterized mandatory hijab as "an affront to the dignity and rights of Iranian women" and called for an "end to all oppressive policies against women in various personal and social spheres."
As an alternative, the signatories advocate for "optional hijab."
All women in Iran must conceal their hair with a headscarf and wear loose fitting trousers under their coats while in public.
But a growing number of women have appeared in public since monthslong demonstrations erupted in September last year following the death of a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, in police custody.
Amini had been arrested in Tehran for allegedly wearing her headscarf improperly.
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