Why the Iranian Regime Is Softening Its Stance on the Hijab

Aug 13, 2026 | "We see very, very many more women now going into the streets very easily, having coffee together, not wearing the veil ... so that protest in a way has dissipated, because in a way, that battle has been won by women, despite what the hardliners are saying."

In Iran, the National Security Council suspended strict enforcement imposed upon women because the regime recognised it was fighting a "losing battle”, says Dr Roxane Farmanfarmaian, director of international studies and global politics at Cambridge University.

Dr Roxane Farmanfarmaian was speaking to Stephen Sackur on The Times At One. Listen live every Monday to Thursday, from 1pm.


WIKIPEDIA: Roxane Farmanfarmaian »

No Beards, No Veils': Uighur Life in China's Xinjiang

BBC: China says Islamist separatists in Xinjiang are the greatest threat to national security. The far western region is home to a community of some 10 million Uighurs, who are mostly Muslim.

Beijing is concerned that young Uighurs are vulnerable to radicalisation. Widespread intimidation makes reporting from the region extremely difficult, but the BBC gained exclusive access to the area. (+ BBC video) » | Saturday, March 18, 2017

Filmed and edited by Matthew Goddard; Produced by Ashley Semler

David Cameron Backs Bans on Muslim Face Veils as Tories Plan Crackdown on Gender Segregation

THE TELEGRAPH: Prime Minister says it is 'proper and sensible' for Muslim women to remove face veils when asked to by public officials

Muslim women can be banned from wearing veils in schools, courts and other British institutions, David Cameron has said.

The Prime Minister said that he will give his backing to public authorities that put in place “proper and sensible” rules to ban women from wearing face veils in comments which will reignite debates.

It comes as the Government prepare to announce a series of measures designed to stop British Muslims becoming radicalised and traveling to the Middle East to join terrorist groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).

As part of the plans, ministers will pledge to outlaw gender segregation during meetings in public buildings amid concerns that some Muslim organisations are forcing women to sit separately. » | Peter Dominiczak, and Steven Swinford | Monday, January 18, 2016

Maryam Namazie – Nude Protest: A Challenge to Islam, the Veil, and Islamism

Maryam Namazie speaking at the 2014 American Atheists National Convention in Salt Lake City, UT.

Maryam Namazie is an Iranian-born political activist, campaigner, journalist, and blogger. She is the spokesperson for Fitnah! Movement for Women’s Liberation, One Law for All (a campaign against Sharia Law in Britain), and the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain. She is the winner of countless awards for international activism and journalism. In 2011, she was the keynote speaker at the World Atheist Convention in Dublin.