Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has called on the government to recognize that a substantial part of society opposes the mandatory hijab.

He made these statements in an introduction he wrote for a research paper on the topic of hijab.

In recent months, there has been a notable increase in police and judicial actions against women and girls who choose not to wear the mandatory hijab. The Hijab and Chastity Bill, which was approved by the Judicial and Legal Commission of the Parliament, to confiscate up to 10 percent of celebrities' assets and incomes if they violate hijab rule has been met with criticism as it targets women who refuse to comply with the mandatory hijab.

Addressing the issue, Mohammad Khatami wrote that “relying on coercion has not proven to be successful and has instead led to widespread protests”. He highlighted the need “to understand the diverse and evolving nature of society and seek realistic solutions to the challenges arising from this transformation.”

The opposition to the mandatory hijab has gathered pace, particularly in recent months after the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police, and the ensuing Women, Life, Freedom protests. Women continue to defy coercive measures imposed by the Islamic Republic and appear in public places without the mandatory hijab.

Recently, reports have surfaced regarding the regime's actions against institutions and online companies due to the publication of images of their female employees without the mandatory hijab.