Despite initial reductions in hijab enforcement, the Iranian government intensified these measures in April 2024, leading to at least 618 arrests of women under the 'Noor Plan,' according to UN reports.

President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed concerns over the potential social ramifications of enforcing this bill, having previously assured that morality police would not harass women.

The recent protests in Iran were reignited by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in custody after being arrested for allegedly violating hijab laws, sparking widespread demonstrations across the country.

For nearly 48 days, protesters, primarily women dressed in black full-body robes, staged a sit-in outside the Iranian parliament, advocating against strict hijab laws.

The demonstrators were calling for the enforcement of a recently approved bill that imposes harsher penalties on women who refuse to wear the hijab, which had been passed by Parliament in September 2023 but not yet implemented.

This controversial bill, known as the 'Law on Supporting the Family through the Promotion of the Culture of Chastity and Hijab,' reportedly imposes penalties of up to 10 years in prison and fines of approximately $6,000 for promoting 'nudity' or 'indecency'.

On March 28, 2025, police intervened to disperse the unauthorized protest, instructing demonstrators to maintain public order, as reported by the official IRNA agency.

After negotiations with police, many protesters complied with orders to leave, but around 30 individuals resisted, leading to confrontations that included insults and violence.

Images from the protest depicted demonstrators in black chadors, showcasing their commitment to the cause and the ongoing struggle against the hijab mandate.

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iranian women have been mandated to wear the hijab, but many have increasingly defied this requirement, particularly in urban areas like Tehran.

The bill had initially been shelved after parliamentary approval due to concerns about potential social unrest, as noted by government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani in January 2025.

The UN has indicated that Iran is increasingly using electronic surveillance and informants to monitor compliance with hijab laws, following findings that the government was responsible for the violence leading to Amini's death.