Iran ends legal confusion, allows women on motorcycles

Women in Iran can now officially get a licence to ride motorcycles, local media reported Wednesday, ending years of uncertainty about the law.

Before, the law did not clearly ban women from riding motorbikes or scooters, but authorities often refused to issue licences.

Because of this unclear rule, women were sometimes held responsible for accidents even when they were victims.

Iran’s First Vice President, Mohammad Reza Aref, signed a resolution on Tuesday to clarify the traffic code.

Approved by Iran’s cabinet in late January, the resolution requires traffic police to provide training for women, organize exams under police supervision, and issue motorcycle licences to female riders.

This change comes after nationwide protests in Iran, which began over economic issues but expanded last month into larger demonstrations against the government.

Tehran reported over 3,000 deaths during the unrest, saying most were security forces and bystanders.

Since the 1979 Islamic revolution, women in Iran have faced many restrictions, including strict dress codes, which made riding motorcycles difficult.

Women must cover their hair and wear modest, loose clothing, but many have started ignoring these rules, and the number of women riding motorcycles have grown in recent months.

The trend grew stronger after the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman arrested for allegedly breaking the dress code.

Her death sparked protests across Iran as women demanded more freedoms.