“The draft legislation might be described as a type of gender apartheid, as authorities seem like governing by means of systemic discrimination with the intention of suppressing ladies and ladies into complete submission,” the unbiased consultants mentioned.
They confused that the proposed parliamentary Invoice to Help the Household by Selling the Tradition of Chastity and Hijab and current de facto restrictions are inherently discriminatory and will quantity to gender persecution.
“The draft legislation imposes extreme punishments on ladies and ladies for non-compliance which can result in its violent enforcement,” the consultants warned.
It additionally violates basic rights corresponding to the precise to participate in cultural life, freedom of opinion and expression, the precise to peaceable protest, and the precise to entry social, academic, and well being companies, they added.
Mahsa Amini loss of life
“After months of nationwide protests over the loss of life of Jina Mahsa Amini and in opposition to restrictive veiling legal guidelines, the authorities have launched a tiered system of punishments focusing on ladies and ladies,” the consultants mentioned.
The 22-year-old was arrested in Tehran and brought into custody practically a yr in the past by the so-called morality police for her alleged failure to adjust to the already strict hijab legal guidelines.
She reportedly fell ailing at a police station with witnesses testifying that she had first been severely crushed, and later died in hospital. Iranian authorities denied that she had been assaulted.
Tradition warfare
The UN-appointed added the proposed new punishments beneath the draft laws would “disproportionately have an effect on economically marginalised ladies”.
Using tradition by the Iranian authorities as a device to limit the rights of girls and ladies is misplaced, the consultants warned, noting that “tradition is shaped and evolves with the participation of all”.
By utilizing phrases corresponding to “nudity, lack of chastity, lack of hijab, dangerous dressing and acts in opposition to public decency resulting in disturbance of peace”, the draft legislation seeks to authorise public establishments to disclaim important companies and alternatives to those that is not going to comply.
Administrators and managers of organisations who fail to implement the legislation is also punished; the unbiased consultants warned.
‘Weaponizing’ morality
“The weaponization of “public morals” to disclaim ladies and ladies their freedom of expression is deeply disempowering and can entrench and increase gender discrimination and marginalisation, with wider damaging penalties for kids and society as an entire,” the consultants mentioned.
They word that the so-called morality police have additionally been reportedly redeployed in some areas since early July, doubtlessly to implement obligatory veiling strictures.
The invoice was submitted to parliament by the Authorities and the judiciary on 21 Could. Since then, it has been amended a number of occasions, with the most recent draft considerably rising the variety of punishments for non-compliance.
“We urge authorities to rethink the obligatory hijab laws in compliance with worldwide human rights legislation, and to make sure the total enjoyment of human rights for all ladies and ladies in Iran,” the consultants mentioned.
Consultants’ mandate
Particular Rapporteurs and different unbiased human rights consultants are appointed to observe and report on particular nation conditions or thematic points.
They serve of their particular person capability, should not UN workers and don’t obtain cost for his or her work.
