Women in Iran can now officially obtain a scooter or motorcycle license, the Iranian news agency Ilna announced on Wednesday. Until now, women were not prohibited from riding motorcycles.
Car licenses have long been allowed for women in Iran, yet motorcycle licenses were a real taboo, remaining an officially male-only ‘privilege.’
They were already riding scooters and motorcycles in growing numbers, mainly out of economic necessity and urban congestion, but they were not issued valid driver’s licenses, so in the event of an accident, they were always accused.
Legal ambiguity
Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref signed a resolution on Tuesday that will allow women toobtain a valid motorcycle license.
Under the new directive, the Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran is required to provide practical riding training and administer licensing exams for female applicants under the direct supervision of the traffic police. The formal authorization ends years of legal ambiguity.
After the Iranian Revolution in 1979, several customs were made inaccessible to women. Strict dress codes also made it difficult for women to drive motorcycles.
Regulations
Iranian women are required to cover their hair and wear modest, loose clothing in public. In recent years, however, women have increasingly been flouting these regulations.
The timing of the resolution reflects political pressure and social change, especially since protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, a young Iranian woman arrested for allegedly violating the strict dress code. Her death sparked protests across the country in which many women who participated demanded more freedom.
Other parts of the world
In Saudi Arabia, women have been legally allowed to ride since 2018, but female motorcyclists remain a very small minority. Today, Afghanistan stands out as the only country where women are broadly and clearly prohibited from driving or riding.
In countries like Yemen and Libya, women may be legally allowed to drive or ride but face local enforcement, militia control, or social punishment that functions like a ban.
