Women's March Against Compulsory Hijab

Culture of origin: Iranian · Historical

Holiday sources: Iran

The march was planned to celebrate International Women's Day but became a protest against the mandatory hijab announced the day before by Khomeini. Thousands of women protested for six days, from 8 to 14 March 1979, and were met with violence and intimidation by pro-Khomeini Islamists. The Islamists retreated at first, but in 1983 parliament passed a law punishing women who refused state-enforced veiling.