Tehran: Iran’s government is resorting to counselling sessions for women as part of its efforts to enforce regulations mandating the wearing of hijabs. Reports indicate that healthcare organizations have raised concerns about the country’s judiciary misusing mental health treatments, while others interpret these actions as a sign of the government’s struggle to uphold hijab laws.
In a symbolic act of protest, Iranian actress Afsaneh Bayegan defiantly shared pictures of her hair uncovered on Instagram and attended a public event without a hijab. These actions have provoked the Iranian government, which has been seeking new methods to compel women to adhere to the headscarf requirement. According to the Fars News Agency, Bayegan (61) received a two-year suspended prison sentence and was ordered to attend a “psychological centre” weekly to address her perceived “anti-family personality disorder.”
In a similar vein, a woman in Tehran province was sentenced to a month of ‘morgue cleaning’ for driving without a hijab, reflecting a growing trend of unconventional punishments. Numerous Iranian women have begun displaying their hair in response to the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022, who was detained by Iran’s morality police for her alleged “improper” hijab.
The use of psychological treatment sentences has alarmed Iran’s psychiatric sector. Four mental health organizations wrote an open letter to the head of the judiciary, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei, expressing concerns about the exploitation of psychiatry for ulterior motives. They stressed that diagnosing mental health conditions is the responsibility of psychiatrists, not judges.
Even young children have not been spared from this misuse of psychiatric treatments. During anti-government protests after Mahsa Amini’s death, Education Minister Youssef Nouri acknowledged the detention of schoolchildren for “re-education” in “medical psychological centres” to prevent “anti-social” behaviour.
Azadeh Kian, an Iran specialist and political science professor, attributes this misuse of psychiatric treatments to the authorities’ disarray. Despite governmental efforts to suppress anti-hijab protests, more women have been discarding their headscarves in recent months. Authorities have imposed fines, sent warning messages to women spotted driving without a hijab, confiscated vehicles, pressured employers to terminate female employees, and even forced shops catering to unveiled women to shut down.
The ongoing confrontation between the Iranian authorities and society, particularly its youth, illustrates a growing disconnect. Efforts to curb anti-hijab dissent continue unabated, with various state branches striving to suppress acts of defiance.
A proposed bill in the Iranian parliament aims to introduce harsher penalties for women who resist wearing hijabs, potentially leading to severe consequences, including the loss of civil rights and even death sentences for promoting unveiled appearances.
This ongoing struggle underscores the divide between Iran’s authorities and its populace, particularly the youth. The authorities’ attempts to enforce outdated standards are increasingly losing legitimacy and further alienating themselves from the population. Despite these efforts, the determination of those challenging the hijab law shows no signs of waning.
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