BBC Homepage
  • Skip to content
  • Accessibility Help
  • Your account
  • Notifications
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • More menu
More menu
Search BBC
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
Close menu
BBC News
Menu
  • Home
  • InDepth
  • Israel-Gaza war
  • War in Ukraine
  • Climate
  • UK
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Culture
More
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Health
  • Family & Education
  • In Pictures
  • Newsbeat
  • BBC Verify
  • Disability
  • BBC Trending

Iranian hardliners threaten taxi app boycott in hijab row

  • Published
    11 June 2019
Share page
About sharing
Snapp uninstall messageImage source, Twitter
BBC News
and BBC Monitoring

Iranian social media users are threatening to boycott their country's popular taxi app Snapp after the company apologised to a woman who had been ordered out of one of their driver's cars for failing to wear the compulsory Islamic headscarf, or hijab.

The passenger posted a picture on Twitter of the driver who ordered her out of his cab.

"This is the driver who dropped me off his car in the middle of a motorway [in the capital Tehran]," she wrote on 6 June.

Snapp later apologised and promised to reprimand the driver, according to the woman.

women wearing hijab in IranImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Since the 1979 revolution, it has been compulsory for women in Iran to wear the hijab

Conservatives responded angrily to Snapp's decision, criticising the company for submitting to people who disrespect "Islamic values".

A Persian-language hashtag which translates as "boycott Snapp" has been used more than 66,000 times since Saturday.

  • Woman becomes face of Iran protests despite not being there

  • Iran police arrest 30 at private yoga class

  • Iranian women threw off the hijab - what happened next?

"If news that Snapp has apologised to the girl with derogatory behaviour and reprimanded Saeed Abed [the driver] is true," one user tweeted, "in addition to boycotting Snapp, the company manager who has actually encouraged indecency by his apology and reprimanded the driver, should be prosecuted based on... the Islamic Penal Code."

Following the Islamic revolution in 1979, the Iranian authorities imposed a mandatory dress code requiring all women to wear the hijab.

In an interview with Iranian state television channel IRTV3, Mr Abed said he could be fined if police identified female passengers not wearing hijabs in his car and that his actions were his "religious duty".

The woman had "defied" him by reporting him to Snapp, he told the broadcaster.

According to hardline website Jahannews, the Aerospace commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, Brig-Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh, met the Snapp driver and personally thanked him.

In a statement on Saturday, Snapp said it had apologised to the driver.

"We apologised to the driver whose particulars were published," the statement read.

"He will continue to work at Snapp satisfactorily.

"Moreover, customer-respect policy required us to empathise with the passenger because her journey was incomplete, as well as notifying her of Snapp's terms and conditions."

You might also be interested in:

  • Justin Bieber wants to fight Tom Cruise

  • Handmaid's fail: Kylie Jenner faces backlash for themed party

  • The underwater Indian village that emerges once a year

On Monday, the woman deleted her earlier tweets and apologised.

"I hereby apologise to the Snapp driver, Snapp company and all those who were hurt because of the recent story," she tweeted.

"I declare I am bound to comply with my country's laws."

Media caption,

Iran's hijab protests: The Girls of Revolution Street

Peaceful protests against the hijab law on the streets and on social media have sparked a crackdown by the authorities.

Since January 2018, they have arrested at least 48 women's rights defenders, including four men, according to Amnesty International, external. The campaign group says some have been tortured and sentenced to prison terms or flogging after grossly unfair trials.

Women who participate in public demonstrations against the hijab could face up to 10 years in prison, the police have warned.

Top stories

  • Live. 

    Israel's security cabinet approves plan to take control of Gaza City

    • 2274 viewing2.3k viewing
  • Netanyahu divides Israelis and allies with plan to occupy Gaza

    • Published
      6 hours ago
  • Homelessness Minister Rushanara Ali quits over rent hike claims

    • Published
      5 hours ago

More to explore

  • Big Mags: The paedophile-hunting granny who built a heroin empire

    Mags Haney outside her home in the Raploch talking to two police officers. The photo from the mid 1990s shows Haney with short bleached blond hair and big earrings. She is wearing a pink cardigan and and orange t-shirt. A number of locals are standing around watching the scene
  • 'Minister for hypocrisy' and 'Pill for weight loss on NHS'

    The Daily Mail has the headline "Minister for hypocrisy is forced to quit", and the Daily Express says "Pill for weight loss on NHS".
  • Weekly quiz: Which baby names took top spot?

    A baby sucks its fingers as it lies on a pink blanket. It is wrapped in a pale, floral towel, as if it has just had a bath.
  • Faisal Islam: Why has the Bank of England cut rates?

    Andrew Bailey, Bank of England governor, looks straight at the camera. he's wearing glasses and a dark suit.
  • Why Trump-Putin talks unlikely to bring rapid end to Ukraine war

    A composite image of Donald Trump on the left and Vladimir Putin on the right. Both men are wearing suits.
  • The secret system Hamas uses to pay government salaries

    Armed members of Hamas stand in camouflage uniforms in front of a white car. Their faces are covered by balaclavas.
  • My 30-year-old world record 'not a good sign for athletics' - Edwards

    • Attribution
      Sport
    Jonathan Edwards celebrates after setting the triple jump world record in 1995
  • On Ukraine's front line, twisted wreckage shows sanctions haven't yet stopped Russia

    Dymtro Chubenko stands in front of a pile of Russian missile and drone parts
  • Summer Essential: Your family’s guide to the summer, delivered to your inbox every Tuesday

    concentric circles ranging from orange to yellow to represent the sun, with a blue sky background
loading elsewhere stories

Most read

  1. 1

    'Minister for hypocrisy' and 'Pill for weight loss on NHS'

  2. 2

    Mushroom murderer's alleged attempts to kill husband revealed

  3. 3

    A walk-in fishermen's clinic saved me from sepsis - and could transform the NHS

  4. 4

    Britons booking 'later, closer, shorter' UK breaks

  5. 5

    Waterstones apologises after readers brand event 'utter chaos'

  6. 6

    Homelessness Minister Rushanara Ali quits over rent hike claims

  7. 7

    US offers $50m reward for arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro

  8. 8

    Big Mags: The paedophile-hunting granny who built a heroin empire

  9. 9

    Southern European butterfly spotted in UK for first time

  10. 10

    Netanyahu divides Israelis and allies with plan to occupy Gaza

BBC News Services

  • On your mobile
  • On smart speakers
  • Get news alerts
  • Contact BBC News

Destination X

  • Your latest reality TV obsession has landed on iPlayer

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Destination X
  • Rob Brydon welcomes you to Destination X

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Destination X
  • Get on board and play along at home

    • Attribution
      Game
    Destination X Game
  • Where the X are they off to next?

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Destination X
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • Terms of Use
  • About the BBC
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies
  • Accessibility Help
  • Parental Guidance
  • Contact the BBC
  • Make an editorial complaint
  • BBC emails for you

Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.