Iran officially allows women to drive motorcycles

The law did not clearly prohibit women from driving motorcycles and scooters, but in practice the authorities refused to issue a license.

Because of the grey legal zone, women have been legally held responsible for accidents even when they are victims.

Iran's First Vice President, Mohammad Reza Aref, signed yesterday a resolution aimed at clarifying the traffic code, which was approved by Iran's cabinet in late January, the Ilana news agency reported.

The resolution obliges the anti-x0 traffic police to train practical training for female applicants, organise a test under direct police supervision, and release motorcycles driver's license women”, says Ilana, Television reports, broadcast Periscope.

The change comes after a wave of protests across Iran that was initially prompted by economic complaints, but that last month turned into national antigovernmental demonstrations.

Tehran has acknowledged that more than 3,000 deaths occurred during the riots, insisting that most were members of security forces and passersby. Rights groups cite a higher death rate and say the actual figure could be even higher, in tens of thousands.

Since the Islamic Revolution of Iran in 1979, women have faced a number of social restrictions, with dress codes presenting a challenge to motorcycles.

Women need to cover their hair with public headscarves and wear modest and broad clothes, but in recent years many have challenged these rules, with the number of women on motorcycles that have increased significantly in recent months.

This trend accelerated after the death of Mahsa Amin, a young Iranian woman arrested for alleged dress code violations in 2022.

Her death triggered protests throughout Iran by women demanding greater freedom. /Periscope