General Discussion

The Islamic Republic in Iran has strict laws about women's clothing and dancing with men in public (that are not family members).[38] "The use of headscarf in public is mandatory for women while dancing is prohibited."[39] Several women producing videos of themselves dancing have been arrested and forced to confess for "breaking moral norms" on state TV (which The Guardian says is "a tactic often used by Iranian authorities&quot .[40][41] Maedeh Hojabri posted videos on Instagram of her dancing. Her Instagram account was then blocked and she was arrested. Hojabri's arrest "led to an outcry of support from ordinary Iranians".[41][42][43] In response to protest the Hojabri's arrest, Iranian women have posted videos of themselves dancing.[44] Rights activists said that Hojabri's TV confession was a "forced confession of wrongdoing".[45][46]

Women are banned from singing in Iran because Shia Muslim clerics believe that "a woman's singing voice can be erotic". Women in Iran have been jailed for "singing in public, or publishing their work on social media".[45][47]

According to Amnesty International women in Iran face "discrimination in law and practice in relation to marriage and divorce, inheritance, child custody, nationality and international travel".[45][48]

In December 2022, Iran was expelled from membership of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, following the death of Mahsa Amini and the violent crackdown against the Mahsa Amini protests in Iran. This was the first time a member had been expelled over its treatment of women in the history of the commission.[49][50] In 2024, crackdown on protestors and activists participating in these protests received condemnation from human rights groups.[51][52] Additionally executions have been carried out against these activists.[53] Additionally prominent feminist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Narges Mohammadi is imprisoned, the regime has received multiple international calls for her release.[54][55]