Sunni Cleric Voices Support for Women Defying Hijab Rules

A prominent Sunni cleric in Iran voiced support Friday for women who defy rules mandating they wear a hijab in public, saying such women are expressing their discontent and "demonstrating civil disobedience."

In a sermon, Molavi Abdul Hamid, the Friday prayer imam of Sunnis in the city of Zahedan, said hijabs cannot be imposed on Iranian women through imprisonment, detention or torture.

He also said Iran's