Senior Iran official first to publicly criticise regime's hijab crackdownAli Larijani, an adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and a former parliamentary speaker, is the first senior political figure to publicly call for a rethink on the government's crackdown on women and girls who do not adhere to the Islamic dress code.Thursday 13 October 2022 11:03, UKA senior Iranian official has questioned excessive state enforcement of the country's compulsory hijab laws - following the death of Mahsa Amini in custody.Mr Larijani is the first senior political figure to publicly call for a rethink on the government's crackdown on women and girls who do not adhere to the Islamic dress code.In an apparent break from the uncompromising line shown by the regime, he said in the interview: "The hijab has a cultural solution, it does not need decrees and referendums.Read moreUK sanctions Iran's morality police following death of Mahsa AminiIranian state TV hacked as women protesters tell President Raisi to 'get lost'UK sanctions Iran's morality police following death of Mahsa AminiIranian state TV hacked as women protesters tell President Raisi to 'get lost'He noted that during the period of the last Shah's rule before the 1979 Iranian revolution, wearing of the hijab was not encouraged by the state but many women wore it voluntarily."