There are those in our space who may share pictures of women in Iran without hijab to gain the sympathy of the West and show them that Iran is not 'oppressive'.

There are those in our space who may share pictures of women in Iran without hijab to gain the sympathy of the West and show them that Iran is not 'oppressive'.

Yes, Iran does not oppress. However, repression does not depend on whether the government implements the mandatory hijab or not. It depends on whether the government obeys the will of the people, strives to increase their livelihood and fight corruption. A hijab is simply a piece of cloth, and wearing it is a religious obligation and a national law.

By stating that Iran is not oppressive because women run around freely without the hijab, you are implying that it would be wrongful or oppressive if the hijab were enforced. Which, most likely, will happen at some point in the future, and will be the right step, as it is in accordance with the national law and the religious beliefs of the vast majority of Iranians. The hijab thing has gone 'too far' in Iran, and the way women are presented on the streets is not appropriate at the moment. However, the government made a conscious decision not to intervene at this point in time, due to the sensitive political situation and the need to maintain national unity and social cohesion.

The point I am trying to make is that the Iranians do not need the approval of the West. Whether hijab is applied or not, the Iranian people choose their own laws, their own way of life and their own values. As Muslims, we may be tempted to show our non-Muslim friends that 'Iran isn't very strict' when it comes to the hijab, and that's true - but it's not something we should be proud of, or something we should strive for in the long term.