The story: Senior Iranian lawmakers are making conflicting statements on the fate of a controversial bill to toughen enforcement of the mandatory hijab.

One senior MP has asserted that the bill has been sent to a constitutional watchdog for final approval, implying that lawmakers have already voted on it in secret. However, the claim has promptly been dismissed by two other senior legislators who say no such ballot has been held. This comes as a prominent newspaper has alleged that lawmakers have put forward harsh amendments to the final draft of the legislation.

The coverage: Conservative MP Hassan Norouzi, the deputy chairman of the parliament's judicial and legal commission, told the official IRNA news agency on Aug. 21 that the “Hijab and Chasity Bill” had been submitted to...