A video showing Fatemeh Shamkhani, the daughter of Ali Shamkhani – senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader – wearing a strapless, low-cut wedding gown has sparked outrage in Tehran, highlighting tensions between the elite and strict public morality laws. The wedding, held at the luxury Espinas Palace Hotel last year, shows Shamkhani walking his daughter down the aisle as the bride is cheered amid loud music, while several female attendees appear without headscarves.
The backlash centers on the apparent contradiction between the lavish Western-style celebration and Iran’s strict hijab laws, which have been rigorously enforced by Shamkhani and the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), the body responsible for national security and public morality. The SNSC played a central role in the violent crackdown on anti-hijab protests following the 2022 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, whose arrest for alleged non-compliance with dress codes sparked nationwide unrest that left hundreds dead, including dozens of security personnel and children.
The video’s release comes as Iran plans to deploy 80,000 morality police officers to enforce women’s dress codes, intensifying public criticism of the regime’s perceived double standards. Activists and social media users condemned the display of opulence amid widespread poverty, high inflation, and economic hardship. According to 2022 data, nearly half of Iran’s population lives below the poverty line, with annual inflation exceeding 42% and unemployment at 9%.
Exiled activist Masih Alinejad criticized the wedding as emblematic of systemic hypocrisy, noting that while elite daughters wear designer gowns freely, ordinary women face beatings for minor dress violations and young couples struggle to afford marriage. Swedish-Iranian MP Alireza Akhondi also denounced the event as a “display of hypocrisy, corruption, and fear,” arguing that the bride’s freedom stems solely from her father’s power rather than religious principles. The incident has fueled ongoing debate in Iran over the stark contrast between elite privilege and the restrictive policies imposed on ordinary citizens.
