Hijab and Chastity Day in Iran Date in the current year: July 12, 2024

In the Western world, hijab is primarily associated with a traditional headscarf worn by Muslim women. However, in Muslim countries and communities the term usually refers to any head, face, or body covering that conforms to a certain standard of modesty. Muslim women are expected to cover their entire body except for the face, hands up to wrists, and feet. In some Muslim countries, all women must wear hijab in public, while in some European and even Muslim-majority countries the law prohibits the wearing of hijab in educational establishments and government buildings.

The tradition of veiling hair in Iranian culture dates back to the pre-Islamic times. However, in 1936, the country’s pro-western ruler Reza Shah Pahlavi issued a decree known as Kashf-e hijab that banned all Islamic veils. The ban was strictly enforced, with the police physically removing veils and headscarves from women who wore them in public.

Following the Iranian Revolution of 1978–1979, many women started to wear hijab voluntarily for different reasons. Unveiled women were seen as victims of Gharbzadegi (Westoxification). In 1983, wearing the hijab became obligatory, although the definition of proper hijab was left ambiguous. A year later, the dress code became even stricter.

Today, all Iranian women are obliged to observe hijab in public, and July 12 is celebrated as Hijab and Chastity Day.