In Iran, where protesting the mandatory veil often results in accusations of mental illness, a new clinic is being set up to “treat” women who resist wearing the hijab.
Last week, Iranian authorities unveiled plans for the clinic in Tehran, which, according to its description, mirrors the approach of facilities that treat substance abuse. This will be the country’s first counseling center explicitly dedicated to enforcing the hijab law, offering “scientific and psychological treatment” to women who reject it. Mehri Talebi Darestani, the woman overseeing the initiative, explained that the clinic will focus on helping young women and teens “remove the hijab,” promoting a return to what she calls social and Islamic identity. Darestani emphasized that visiting the center would be optional, but framed it as part of a larger effort to instill “dignity, modesty, chastity, and hijab.”
Darestani, who has previously voiced support for child marriage on state television, has justified this initiative as an important step in reinforcing traditional values. However, human rights advocates have strongly criticized this move, arguing that it represents a dangerous attempt to pathologize opposition to the hijab.
