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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Iran formally allows women to ride motorcycles

 People walk past in Tehran, Iran, January 26, 2026.
People walk past in Tehran, Iran, January 26, 2026.
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Tehran - Women in Iran can now formally obtain a licence to ride a motorcycle, local media reported Wednesday, ending years of legal ambiguity surrounding two-wheelers.


The law previously did not explicitly prohibit women from riding motorbikes and scooters, but in practice, authorities refused to issue licences.


Due to the legal grey area, women have been held legally responsible for accidents even when victims.


Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref signed a resolution on Tuesday aimed at clarifying the traffic code, which was approved by Iran's cabinet in late January, the country's Ilna news agency reported.


The resolution obliges traffic police to "provide practical training to female applicants, organise an exam under the direct supervision of the police, and issue motorcycle driver's licences to women", Ilna said.


Since Iran's 1979 revolution, women have faced several societal restrictions, with dress codes posing a challenge for those riding motorcycles.



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