Iran Bans Boots, Hats on Women

(Tehran, Iran) The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Ministry of Culture and Islamic Orientation, along with the police, judiciary and Revolutionary Guard, have ordered a ban on women wearing boots and hats. Interestingly, there seems to have been unanimous agreement for the ban -- maybe because women were not given an opportunity to object.

Tehran Police Chief General Ahmad Radan announced the prohibition yesterday.

"If boots are not covered by pants that fall to the ankles, they show the female shape and that is therefore in contradiction with Islamic dress code," said Radan.

Iranian women can no longer leave home with their pants pushed inside their boots and they can no longer wear hats without a veil.

"A hat is not an adequate substitute for a veil or a hijab," he said. "If someone really wants to wear a hat, they can put it on the veil."

Feminist Rezvan Moghdaddam told Adnkronos International (AKI) that police should be concerned about drug traffickers than street fashion.

"Instead of being busy with women's hats and boots, the police would be better catching the merchants of death that kill our young people with drugs," she said from Tehran.

"Our cities are infested by delinquents and security forces are only worried about how women dress, all this is really ridiculous."

Therefore, as long as women are seen as shapeless and unremarkable, they will be allowed to walk the streets of Tehran. Meanwhile, law enforcers in Tehran have been turned into the official Boot and Hats Police, something akin to glorified hall monitors.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.