Iran formally permits women to get motorcycle licences, ending a legal grey area that left female riders vulnerable after accidents.
TEHRAN: Women in Iran can now formally obtain licences to ride motorcycles. The resolution ends years of legal ambiguity where authorities refused to issue permits despite no explicit ban.
Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref signed the clarifying resolution on Tuesday. It obliges traffic police to provide training, conduct exams, and issue licences to female applicants.
The change follows nationwide anti-government demonstrations that grew from economic grievances. Tehran has acknowledged over 3,000 deaths occurred during the recent unrest.
For some women, the legal change arrives late. “Women have been riding motorcycles for months already,” said Saina, a 33-year-old who commutes by scooter.
She added, “I don’t think this is the main problem in our society,” referring to the protests and economic challenges. Women have faced societal restrictions since Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution.
Dress codes have posed a particular challenge for female riders. They must cover their hair and wear modest clothing, though many have defied these rules recently.
The number of women on motorbikes rose sharply in recent months. This trend accelerated after the 2022 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, arrested for allegedly violating the dress code.
Her death sparked protests across Iran by women demanding greater freedoms. Previously, women could be held legally responsible for accidents even when they were victims.
