### Iran to Open Psychiatric Clinics for Women Defying Hijab Mandate, Sparking Outrage

In a controversial move, Iran plans to establish treatment clinics aimed at women who refuse to adhere to the mandatory hijab laws. This initiative was announced by Mehri Talebi Darestani, head of the Women and Family Department of the Tehran Headquarters for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. The clinics, termed "hijab removal treatment centers," will offer what authorities describe as "scientific and psychological treatment" specifically for teenage girls, young women, and those seeking a social or Islamic identity.

Talebi Darestani emphasized that visiting these clinics would be optional. However, this department operates under the direct supervision of Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, which underscores its influential role in enforcing strict religious codes—especially those related to women's dress.

The proposal for the new clinics follows an incident involving a university student who was detained and sent to a psychiatric hospital after publicly protesting against dress code enforcers. This has fueled fears among women involved in the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests, who are advocating for greater personal freedoms.

An anonymous young woman from Iran voiced her concerns, telling The Guardian, "It won't be a clinic; it will be a prison." She added that while citizens struggle with basic needs and power outages, the government's focus remains fixated on enforcing the hijab law.

Iranian human rights lawyer Hossein Raeesi criticized the initiative, stating that it neither aligns with Islamic principles nor Iranian law. The use of mental health institutions to enforce dress codes and suppress dissent has been condemned by human rights advocates as manipulative and abusive.

UK-based Iranian journalist Sima Sabet, who survived an assassination attempt last year, called the plan "shameful." She argued that separating individuals from society merely for not conforming to the ruling ideology is deeply troubling.

The "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement gained momentum in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody over alleged hijab violations in September 2022. Since then, hardliners have intensified efforts to enforce strict dress codes. Notable figures, including actresses Afsaneh Bayegan, Azadeh Samadi, and Leila Bolukat, faced court-ordered mandates for weekly psychological evaluations after posting photos of themselves without the hijab.

As Iran moves forward with this plan, the international community watches closely, with many questioning the ethical implications and potential human rights violations involved in such coercive measures.