Iran’s Controversial Hijab Clinic Sparks Outrage
Iran plans to open a “hijab removal treatment clinic” aimed at women who refuse to follow mandatory hijab laws. Mehri Talebi Darestani, head of the Women and Family Department at the Tehran Headquarters for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, announced the initiative. The clinic will reportedly offer “scientific and psychological treatment” for women, especially teenagers and young adults, seeking “social and Islamic identity.”
Optional Visits or Hidden Coercion?
Darestani emphasized that visiting the clinic would be optional. However, critics are skeptical. Many fear this is another attempt to control women under the guise of psychological support.
The department overseeing this initiative operates under Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. It is responsible for enforcing strict religious codes, particularly those targeting women’s dress.
Growing Backlash
The clinic’s announcement has provoked widespread outrage. It follows an incident where a university student protesting hijab enforcement was detained and sent to a psychiatric facility.
A young Iranian woman, speaking anonymously to The Guardian, expressed fear over the clinic’s real purpose. “It won’t be a clinic; it will be a prison,” she said. She criticized the government for prioritizing dress codes over pressing issues like economic hardship and power outages.
Legal and Human Rights Concerns
Iranian human rights lawyer Hossein Raeesi condemned the clinic as neither Islamic nor legally justified. Critics argue that using psychiatric facilities to target dissenters is abusive.
UK-based journalist Sima Sabet called the move “shameful.” She warned that such clinics would isolate women who refuse to conform, branding the idea as manipulative.
Targeting Prominent Figures
Since the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement began after Mahsa Amini’s death in police custody in 2022, authorities have intensified their crackdown on women. High-profile figures like actresses Afsaneh Bayegan and Azadeh Samadi have been ordered to attend psychological centers for posting hijab-less images.
The Fight for Freedom Continues
The “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement remains a powerful force, despite government efforts to suppress it. Activists insist that now is the time to resist these oppressive measures. “If we don’t act now, they’ll lock us all up,” a protester warned.
Iran’s controversial clinic is the latest flashpoint in the ongoing struggle for women’s rights.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by ANN Media, except for the headline.)
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