Hijab in identity construction and shaping public space in modern Iran

Abstract

Hijab - the generic term for Muslim women’s dress code or in a more restricted sense, the headscarf - has been a topic of interest while studying women in Muslim countries, especially countries in the Middle East. This article analyzes the case of Hijab in the Islamic Republic of Iran in identity construction and shaping public space in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. By analyzing contents about women’s clothing and modesty in Qur’an, the interpretation of the Hijab principle by Iranian spiritual leaders and the regulations related to Hijab. The article points out the process of forming and institutionalizing the Hijab regulation in Iran as a part of Iran’s religious - cultural identity and also one of prominent issues of social movements after the revolution.