Hijab does not define girl’s chastity, says Iran president

MUMBAI: Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani, known for his liberal views, has, in a series of tweets, said that a woman’s chastity should not be questioned on the basis of the clothes she wears. The tweets say poverty is a greater threat to chastity than violating the hijab norms, and that a woman’s chastity should not be questioned based on whether or not she wore a hijab.
“I warn everyone not to consider hijab and chastity as identical,” said one tweet, adding that there are many women who do not wear the hijab according to the law but are chaste.
While the tweets come from one of a few twitter accounts in the president’s name, high ranking officials in Iran have confirmed that the tweets are in line with the president’s views.
While the hijab or headscarf is compulsory for all women in Iran, a walk down the streets of Tehran will reveal a combination of stylish head scarves and high fashion, with women seen in designer clothes driving fast cars and lighting their cigars in full public view.
Over a month ago, when young Iranians were arrested over a video which showed them dancing to the Pharrell Williams song “Happy” Rouhani made headlines with a tweet from another account that said “#Happiness is our people's right. We shouldn't be too hard on behaviours caused by joy.” It is widely believed that the tweet led to their release.
Indians who have visited Iran for several years say they have seen a gradual change in women’s attire, and a relaxation of strict dress codes. “Earlier, the Basij (religious police comprising civilian volunteers) would be very strict about the way women dressed and the way the Hijab was worn. It is more relaxed these days,” says an Indian who has spent considerable time in Iran.
An Iranian who TOI spoke to says the president was only reflecting the true values of Islam which were often misunderstood by the West or misinterpreted by Muslims themselves who had not studied the Quran.
“President Rouhani is a broad-minded clergyman and is not saying anything that goes against the fundamentals of the religion,” said an Iranian who does not wish t be named, adding that only those with a false notion of Islam believe that a woman’s chastity is in doubt if she does not observe the hijab. “The Quran itself says that religion is not something that should be accepted through force,” he adds. He, however, does not believe that the changes under President Rouhani were dramatic, adding that Iran was always a modern, liberal society. “Modernization is not equivalent to Westernization,” he points out. Simply because Iran is an Islamic country that follows Shia laws, he does not feel it lacks modernity.
“Discussions on women’s liberty are part of the social fabric of Iranian society. We have a woman’s football team. Women are involved in every sport from archery to badminton and tennis,” he said.