TEHRAN: Women in Iran can now formally obtain licences to ride motorcycles, local media reported on Wednesday, marking a significant regulatory change and ending years of legal ambiguity surrounding female riders and two-wheelers in the country.
While Iranian law had never explicitly prohibited women from riding motorcycles or scooters, authorities had long refused to issue licences to women in practice. As a result of this legal grey area, women involved in road accidents were often held legally responsible, even when they were victims.
The change follows the signing of a resolution on Tuesday by Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, aimed at clarifying the country’s traffic code. The resolution had been approved by Iran’s cabinet in late January, according to the Ilna news agency.
According to AFP, under the new regulation, traffic police are required to provide practical training to female applicants, conduct examinations under direct police supervision, and formally issue motorcycle driver’s licences to women. The move establishes a clear legal framework for women riders for the first time.
The decision comes amid broader social and political shifts in Iran, following a wave of protests that initially began over economic grievances and later expanded into nationwide anti-government demonstrations last month.
Tehran has acknowledged that more than 3,000 people were killed during the unrest, stating that the majority were security personnel and bystanders.
Since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, women have faced a range of social and legal restrictions. Riding motorcycles has posed particular challenges due to strict dress code requirements, which mandate that women cover their hair with a headscarf and wear modest, loose-fitting clothing in public spaces.
Despite these restrictions, the number of women riding motorcycles has risen sharply in recent years, especially in urban areas, with many openly defying traditional norms.
This trend intensified following the 2022 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian woman detained for allegedly violating dress code rules.
Amini’s death sparked widespread protests across Iran, led largely by women demanding greater personal freedoms and legal reforms.
