Jail terms seen for Iranian women not observing Islamic dress code

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Tehran (dpa) - The Iranian judiciary will jail Iranian women who do not observe the Islamic dress code, the news agency Fars reported Saturday.

Deputy state prosecutor Mahmoud Salarkia told Fars that offenders will either face up to ten-day jail terms or cash fines ranging from 50 to 300 euros (60-360 dollars).

Some 50 squads, including female police officers, started on Saturday checking dress codes on the streets in the capital Tehran.

All women in Iran, including foreigners, are obliged to respect the Islamic dress code of contour-hiding gowns or long coats, and scarves hiding the hair. Many women in Tehran and other big cities have been ignoring strict observation of the rules.

The police has warned that the squads would confront all women wearing Bermuda-style pants, tight coats, loose scarves, no socks or walking with pets on streets and in parks.

Salarkia said that in the first phase offenders would only be cautioned but later legally confronted.

According to the new regulations taxi services transporting female customers who were "not decently dressed" would be punished. Also textile importers and boutique owners dealing with 'indecent" goods could face legal consequences.

Salarkia called once again on the parliament for approving the "national dress bill" for replacing the current Western-style fashions. Iran plans to impose Pakistan- or Indian-like gowns on Iranian women.

The new regulations further cover confrontation against "sound pollution," meaning youngsters listening to loud Iranian pop or Western music in their cars.

Strict observation of women's dress code has always been a controversial issue in Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution. All plans by the administration to force women fully to respect the code having so far turned out to be futile.

During the eight-year presidency of reformist Mohammad Khatami the issue was ignored, with the effect of encouraging women to follow new and far more daring fashion styles.

Immediately after last June's victory of ultra-conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in presidential elections, women feared a more restrictive dressing code.

Women form an influential part of the electorate, and any crackdown could lead to a backlash for Ahmadinejad's Abadgaran (Development) party - currently dominating in both executive and legislative powers - in the upcoming city council, parliamentary and eventually presidential elections.