A female student in Iran was arrested and forcibly admitted to a psychiatric hospital after protesting the mandatory dress code. This incident exemplifies a disturbing trend where the regime targets dissenters, especially women, using psychiatric treatment to suppress opposition. Human rights organizations are calling for immediate action to safeguard the rights of convicts and restore justice in Iran’s oppressive climate.
In a stark act of defiance against Iran’s oppressive dress code, a female student at Tehran’s Islamic Azad University stripped down to her undergarments, drawing immediate attention and repercussions. Following her protest, she was apprehended by authorities and transferred to a psychiatric hospital, highlighting the regime’s ongoing tactic of discrediting dissenters through involuntary psychiatric treatment. This disturbing trend has intensified since the onset of the Women, Life, Freedom movement, with the Iranian government increasingly deploying such measures to silence opposition. The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) condemned this move, asserting that the government manipulates the psychiatric system to portray activists as mentally unstable, thereby undermining their credibility. Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of CHRI, stated that this practice not only isolates individuals but intensifies security pressure while limiting independent investigations into such cases. CHRI has called for international action to secure the student’s release and to protect the rights of all Iranians to protest peacefully. This incident sheds light on a broader pattern where peaceful protesters, particularly women, are sanctioned by being labeled mentally ill. Such forced psychiatric admissions are viewed as arbitrary detentions and grassroots violations of international law. Iran’s own regulations mandate voluntary consent for psychiatric treatment unless an individual is judicially or medically declared incapacitated. The historical context of these abuses is not new; past victims of such treatment include Melika Gharegozlou, who was imprisoned and then involuntarily hospitalized after protesting the hijab law, and Roya Zakeri, who faced similar fates for vocalizing dissent against the regime. These instances illustrate the regime’s strategy to invalidate and intimidate those who challenge it, often leading to unfounded slander of mental illness to stifle genuine political opposition. Moreover, various activists without consent have suffered involuntary psychiatric treatment, demonstrating a disturbing tendency to weaponize mental health systems against those perceived as threats. The case of poet and political activist Saman Yasin, forcefully detained and later hospitalized in the same facility notorious for alleged torture, underscores the dire consequences faced by dissenters. This manipulation of psychiatric care serves to control the narrative surrounding dissent and suppress the bravery shown by Iranian women in their struggle against systemic oppression. Activists such as the revered Narges Mohammadi have criticized the regime’s tactics, claiming they cannot intimidate women protesting against misogyny by labeling their resistance as insanity. Ultimately, the ongoing plight of activists subjected to such harrowing experiences calls for an urgent reassessment of how human rights are upheld in Iran, inspiring global advocacy for those valiantly standing up against oppression.
The Iranian government has increasingly resorted to the use of psychiatric hospitals to punish dissidents, particularly in light of the ongoing Women, Life, Freedom protests that began in 2022. This tactic has been employed as a means to delegitimize activists and silence criticism by labeling them as mentally unstable. With several cases of forcibly transferred prisoners making headlines, the situation poses serious human rights concerns that demand international attention and action.
The plight of the female student from Tehran, detained for her brave protest against Iran’s repressive dress code, illuminates broader issues of state-sanctioned oppression in the country. The systemic abuse of psychiatric facilities to control dissent highlights the urgent need for international intervention and support for human rights. Activists and organizations alike must rally to ensure the protection of individuals who courageously challenge the status quo, demanding justice and due process in a regime that seeks to silence them through intimidation and discreditation.
Original Source: iranhumanrights.org
