Women Across Iran , Defy Regime by Refusing , to Wear Hijabs.br NPR reports that while the hijab remains br the official law in Iran, many women around br the country are removing them in protest.br The movement comes in the wake of br anti-government protests following the br killing of Mahsa Amini while in police custody.br The 22-year-old Kurdish womanbr had been arrested for br improperly wearing her hijab.br NPR reports that the government br responded to the protests br with a brutal crackdown.br According to rights groups, br hundreds of people were killed, while br thousands of others were arrested.br Previously, Iran's hijab law was enforced br by the government's morality police.br NPR reports that there appears br to be a pause in the government's typical br enforcement approach since last fall.br I think the government really is putting br itself at risk if it chooses to reinforce br the hijab law in a very draconian way, Sanam Vakil, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House, via NPR.br According to Sanam Vakil, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House, the Iranian political establishment is weighing how to enforce hijab laws.br There are conservatives that have tried to br suggest that reform or outreach and bridge br building to protesters is important, Sanam Vakil, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House, via NPR.