The Iranian government has issued a new regulation that requires hospital patients and medical professionals to adhere to Islamic dress rules.
Majid Mohammadian, the leader of the Hijab and Chastity Secretariat at the Ministry of Health, announced the instruction on Thursday, mandating its implementation in all public and private healthcare facilities across the country.
Mohammadian states that several novel clothing models have been created and manufactured, such as surgical gowns, pants, trousers for colonoscopy, transvaginal ultrasound, breast ultrasound, mammography, specialised breastfeeding costumes, veils, and other clothes.
According to him, the new regulations aim to guarantee that patients’ clothing adheres to Islamic standards throughout medical operations and diagnostic testing.
The declaration is made in the context of the increasing enforcement of hijab restrictions under Project Nour, the campaign directed by the religious authority to guarantee compliance with hijab laws. This has resulted in a rise in physical confrontations and stricter measures against Iranian women.
The government’s unwavering efforts to implement the compulsory hijab have sparked enormous criticism both domestically in Iran and overseas. Human rights organisations, student groups, and campaigners have strongly objected to the restrictions, contending that they constitute violations of fundamental liberties and human rights.
While Iran awaits the official adoption of the contentious hijab bill, named “Protection of Family Through Promotion of Hijab and Chastity Culture”, the administration has already initiated the implementation of the new rules. The newly implemented laws offer a danger of arrest to women and enforce severe penalties, such as travel restrictions, for failing to comply with hijab requirements.