Khamenei Defends Hijab as More Women Violate Dress Code 0 12

His statements came a day after more than half of Iran's parliament, dominated by conservatives, accused the judiciary of failing to properly enforce the law mandating women to wear the hijab.

Last week, Khamenei's administration faced backlash from some ultra-conservatives after it published a photograph in its newspaper of an Iranian woman without a chador, who was killed in the 12-day war with Israel in June.

In the picture, the woman is shown wearing a baseball cap, with her hair clearly visible.

"In the Islamic Republic, it has been proven that a Muslim woman who wears the hijab and respects Islamic dress can achieve greater progress than others in all areas and play an active role both in society and at home," Khamenei said during a meeting with a group of women.