Iranian clerics slam Ahmadinejad over "badly-veiled women"

Iranian clerics have gone on the offensive against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for suggesting a “cultural campaign” against certain styles of dress rather than the ongoing police crackdown.

In Iran, some younger women are tending to move toward less-restrictive veils and headscarves, and close-fitting overcoats (as seen in photo). These “badly-veiled” women are a grave threat to Iran’s youth, says Guardian Council chief Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, who compared women who let their hair show to violent criminals.

“Drug traffickers are hanged,” said, Jannati, “terrorists are executed and robbers are punished for their crimes, but when it comes to the law of God, which is above human rights, [some individuals] stay put and speak about cultural programs. Shall we let badly-veiled women be free in the society corrupt our youth?”

Jannati’s comments, delivered in a sermon last Friday, were in response to Ahmedinejad’s recent suggestion that the goals of recent police efforts to stop cars carrying women, closing stores selling inappropriate clothing, etc. would be better accomplished through a cultural campaign.

Ayatollah Ahmad Alam Hoda of Mashhad agreed with Jannati, referring to the fans of “hijab-lite” as “a corrupt minority”.

Related articles:

1. Iranian Cleric: Earthquakes caused by adultery, not by Deepak Chopra
2. Schlafly: Violence Against Women Act Protects Women Too Much
3. Quebec demands Muslim women show faces
4. In Brief: Vatican Rules: Ordaining Women Priests a Crime Like Sex Abuse of Children
5. Barton Suggests Biblical Law Is Best For Women

Mike Daniels is co-editor of Secular News Daily.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry.