The UN human rights commissioner's office has strongly criticized a newly enacted hijab law in Iran that has increased punishment for women who refuse to cover their heads.

The law imposes harsher penalties, including longer prison sentences and higher fines, on women who do not adhere to the country's strict Islamic dress code for head coverings and modest attire.

During a press briefing held in Geneva on Friday, Ravina Shamdasani, the spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, condemned the legislation. She described it as both “oppressive and degrading.”

“We deeply regret the Iranian parliament’s passing of the new Chastity and Hijab Bill which vastly increases jail terms and provides for crushing fines on women and girls who do not obey the compulsory dress code. In that context, the Bill also targets vague notions of promotion of nudity or indecency.”

Shamdasani explained that under the new regulations, women and girls who fail to comply with the stringent dress code could now face up to 10 years in prison, a significant increase from the previous two-month term. Moreover, fines have been raised from approximately $12 to around $8,500.

The new law follows widespread protests after the tragic death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died while in custody of the morality police in September 2022, just three days after her arrest, for allegedly not adhering to the Islamic dress code for head coverings.

“Our Office urges the Iranian authorities to take steps to eliminate this and all other forms of gender-based discrimination…We also call on the authorities to abolish all regulations and procedures whereby specifically women’s behavior in public is monitored,” added her statement.