The head of a newspaper in Tehran has been summoned to appear in court following the publication of a poll on the "Hijab and Chastity" bill currently being debated by lawmakers, Mizan, the news agency of Iran's judiciary, said.
Mizan did not specify the newspaper's name, but on October 24, the Shargh newspaper reported on a survey suggesting that the "Hijab and Chastity" bill would not have a great impact on attitudes toward with mandatory head scarf, with 84 percent of participants saying it would not influence observance of the rule.
Shargh has since removed the article on the survey from its website.
The bill, which proposes extensive penalties for those opposing wearing the mandatory hijab, is aimed at confronting, detaining, and penalizing women who fail to observe the compulsory dress code amid a fierce debate over the rules.
Earlier this week, Iran's Guardians Council said it had returned the "Hijab and Chastity" bill to parliament due to "ambiguities" in the legislation.
Mizan said in its report that, if the newspaper does not provide the "necessary documents and evidence" sought by the court on the survey and its publication, the Tehran prosecutor will file charges against the media outlet.
The lack of women's rights in Iran has come under intense scrutiny since the September 2022 death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody for a head-scarf violation.
Since then, thousands have poured onto the streets across the country to protest the treatment of women and a general lack of rights, with women and schoolgirls making unprecedented shows of support in the biggest threat to the Islamic government since the 1979 revolution.
In response, the authorities have launched a brutal crackdown on dissent, detaining thousands and handing down stiff sentences to protesters, including the death penalty.
While the protests have shown some signs of waning, resistance to the hijab is likely to increase, analysts say, as it is seen now as a symbol of the state's repression of women and the deadly crackdown on society.