Tehran - As the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death approaches, a growing number of Iranian women are challenging the mandatory hijab law, a symbol of theocratic control in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Across cities, women are increasingly being seen without their headscarves in a quiet but significant act of resistance, even as the government intensifies measures to enforce the dress code.

The defiance has taken hold despite expanded repressive policies, with women and girls walking the streets of Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, and other urban centers, their hair uncovered, particularly during the evenings. These scenes are a striking departure from the strict enforcement of hijab laws in previous years, where even a glimpse of uncovered hair would lead to immediate confrontation with the authorities. In some areas, such as public parks or major streets, the sight of uncovered women is becoming a daily reality, especially after sunset. Social media is filled with videos documenting women walking freely without the hijab, a bold statement against state control.

Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, was arrested by Iran’s notorious morality police on September 13, 2022, for allegedly not wearing her hijab according to the strict standards set by the authorities. Three days later, she died in a hospital after falling into a coma, reportedly due to police violence. Her death ignited widespread protests across Iran, with demonstrators chanting "Women, Life, Freedom"—a slogan that encapsulated the desire for gender equality and basic human rights. What began as protests over women’s dress soon evolved into a broader challenge to the Iranian regime, with calls for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to step down.

The protests were met with a brutal security crackdown that resulted in more than 500 deaths and over 22,000 detentions. Today, the streets of Tehran and other cities appear calmer, but the act of women walking without headscarves remains a potent symbol of dissent. "My quasi-courage for not wearing scarves is a legacy of Mahsa Amini, and we have to protect this as an achievement," said Azadeh, a 25-year-old student at Tehran Sharif University. "She could be at my current age if she did not pass away."

Despite the risks, women continue to defy the government’s orders. In recent months, Iran’s morality police have returned to the streets, but their presence has not deterred all women from uncovering their hair. Videos have surfaced of women and young girls being roughed up by officers, and in one tragic case, a teenage girl was fatally injured on Tehran’s Metro after an altercation over her lack of hijab. In July, police reportedly opened fire on a woman attempting to flee a checkpoint after her car was flagged for not wearing the mandatory headscarf.

The Iranian government has also ramped up its surveillance efforts, targeting businesses where women are seen without hijabs and using advanced technology to monitor compliance. Surveillance cameras track women who do not wear headscarves in cars, with fines and impoundments following. The United Nations has reported that aerial drones were deployed at the 2024 Tehran International Book Fair and Kish Island to detect women who were not complying with the hijab mandate. This crackdown is part of what U.N. investigators describe as "expanded repressive measures" aimed at enforcing the strict dress code.

For many in Iran, the hijab is not only a religious symbol but also a political one. Observant Muslim women see the head covering as an expression of piety and modesty, but in Iran, it has long been a tool for the regime to exert control. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has consistently defended the hijab, declaring that "unveiling is both religiously forbidden and politically forbidden." His position reflects the broader conservative establishment’s view that enforcing the hijab is essential to maintaining the Islamic character of the state. However, for many younger Iranians, especially women, the hijab has become a symbol of oppression.

The election of Masoud Pezeshkian as Iran’s new reformist president in July has brought some hope for change. Pezeshkian, who took office after the death of hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May, campaigned on promises to halt the harassment of women by the morality police. "I think the current peaceful environment is part of the status after Pezeshkian took office," said Hamid Zarrinjouei, a 38-year-old bookseller in Tehran. "In some way, Pezeshkian could convince powerful people that more restrictions do not necessarily make women more faithful to the hijab."

Pezeshkian’s stance contrasts with the hard-line views of his predecessor and much of the conservative leadership. However, the true power in Iran still lies with Khamenei, who holds the final say on matters of state. While Pezeshkian may seek to ease tensions, any significant change to the hijab mandate would require approval from the Supreme Leader. So far, there has been little indication that Khamenei is willing to loosen his stance.

The hijab has long been a flashpoint in Iran’s cultural and political battles. For the conservative leadership, it is a vital part of maintaining the Islamic Republic’s values. But for many women, especially in the younger generation, it is a symbol of the regime’s control over their personal lives. As the anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death approaches, the act of walking without a headscarf has become a form of silent protest—a way for women to assert their autonomy in the face of repression.

The coming weeks may bring more confrontation as the government tries to enforce its laws while women continue to resist. The protests may have subsided, but the struggle over women’s rights and personal freedoms in Iran is far from over. For many, Mahsa Amini’s legacy lives on in the small, everyday acts of defiance that now play out on the streets of Iran’s cities. As one woman put it, "We are continuing what Mahsa started."