Hijab in Iran

Following the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the hijab became the mandatory dress code for all Iranian women by the order of Ayatollah Khomeini, the supreme leader of the new Islamic Republic. Hijab is seen as a symbol of piety, dignity, and identity for Muslim women.

The Safavid dynasty centralized Iran and declared Shia Islam as the official religion of the Safavid Empire (1501–1736), which led to the widespread adoption of hijab by women in the country. Free women continued to wear hijab as a prevalent fashion trend during the Qajar era (1789–1925), with increased inspiration from European fashions and materials. In parallel, slave women did show themselves in public unveiled, but were in contrast not viewed as respectable women.

The Pahlavi era (1925–1979) was marked by significant changes in the hijab and women's dress in Iran, reflecting the influence of Westernization, modernization, and political movements. The first Pahlavi era, under Reza Shah (1925–1941), was characterized by the forced unveiling of women, known as Kashf-e hijab, as part of the regime's attempt to secularize and modernize the country. Women who resisted the ban on hijab faced harassment, violence, and imprisonment. The second Pahlavi era, under Mohammad Reza Shah (1941–1979), was more tolerant of women's choice of clothing, but also encouraged Western styles and fabrics, especially among the urban elite. Women wore a variety of dresses, skirts, pants, suits, and coats, often made of silk, velvet, or brocade. They also wore hijab in different forms, such as scarves, hats, or veils, depending on their personal, religious, or political preferences.

Following the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the hijab became a compulsory dress code for women by the new regime. Restrictions sparked several movements by activists and ordinary citizens who challenged the mandatory hijab, seeking more freedom and rights for women. Already the day after the introduction of mandatory hijab, the 1979 International Women's Day protests in Tehran erupted, delaying the introduction of the new laws. However, the government has throughout the decades cracked down on protests with violence, notably during the Mahsa Amini protests (2022–2023). In September 2024, on the second anniversary of the death of Amini, Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian said that morality police will no longer "bother" women over the wearing of the hijab.

Most Iranian women wear a shawl, a headscarf, a shayla, or a chador, but in Sistan and Baluchestan province, Sunni Muslims and Baloch people commonly wear black niqabs as a sign of familial piety and modesty, while the most popular type of head covering among residents of Qeshm Island is a burqah mask.

Muslims conquered Iran in the time of Umar (637 CE) and Iranians gradually converted to Islam and adopted Muslim customs such as hijab. Before the conquests, Iranians wore a variety of clothes and even wore veil similar to hijab. During the Middle Ages, Turkic nomadic tribes from Central Asia arrived, whose women did not wear headscarves.

As part of Safavid conversion of Iran to Shia Islam (from 1501 to 1736) centralization in the 16th century, the headscarf became defined as the standard headdress for many religious women in urban areas all around the Safavid Empire. Exceptions to this were seen only in the villages and among nomadic tribes, such as Qashqai. Covering the whole face was rare among the Iranians and was mostly restricted to local Arabs and local Afghans.

However, hijab was not uniform and monolithic in Safavid Iran. Women from different ethnic and religious groups wore different styles and colors of veils and headscarves, reflecting their regional and cultural identities. Some women also wore hats, turbans, and bonnets, influenced by European fashion.