A Government Official: Sterilizing Homeless Women is Not in the Country's Best Interest

The spokesperson for the Anti-Narcotics Headquarters announced the establishment of addiction treatment centers for individuals under 17 years old and reported a 30% increase in the organization of homeless addicts in Iran, stating that sterilizing homeless women is not in the country's best interest. According to Fars News Agency, Provez Afshar made these statements on Tuesday, January 3, during a press conference where he provided a report on the activities of this headquarters and the latest status of drug discovery and consumption in Iran. Mr. Afshar announced that the total drug discoveries in the first month of this year amounted to 538 tons, and during this period, 293,277 addicts were identified and arrested. He also mentioned a 30% increase in 'visible' addicts in the first nine months of this year and added that deaths due to drug use in the last eight months have increased by 10% compared to the same period last year. According to this official, 'while the maximum international mortality rate from acute poisonings in some countries is 30% and in others is 10%, this rate in our country is 63%.' He added, 'In the last eight months, we have had 1,605 deaths due to acute drug poisoning, of which 153 were women and the rest were men.' The spokesperson for the Anti-Narcotics Headquarters announced the establishment of addiction treatment camps for individuals under 17 years old, stating that these camps do not equate to 'student addiction treatment camps.' He added, 'Some centers are established under the title of addiction treatment for those under 17, but it does not necessarily mean students, as they are street children.' Mr. Afshar also responded to a question about the 'sterilization' proposal for homeless women, stating that opinions on this matter 'have no enforceable guarantees' and that implementing such a plan 'is not in the country's best interest from a religious, legal, and ethical standpoint.' This official added, 'These individuals have the right to live and reproduce,' and the Anti-Narcotics Headquarters, as a decision-making authority, opposes the implementation of this process. Siavash Shahriyar, the social director of the Tehran governorate, called on Sunday for these homeless women to be sterilized with their consent 'to prevent many social harms.' The issue of sterilizing homeless addicts arose in recent days following reports of grave-digging in the Nasirabad cemetery in Shahriar on social media, which sparked widespread negative reactions. Some social media users labeled this a 'shameless' and 'fascist' proposal, reminding that forced and systematic sterilization, according to the definition of the Hague Court (Rome Statute), is a 'crime against humanity.' The increasing number of homeless addicts in the streets, public places, and the outskirts of major cities has become one of the most significant problems and symbols of social harm in Iran. The consumption of various drugs, especially industrial substances, has led to a rise in a group of addicts in Iran who suffer from various diseases and live in extremely poor conditions. Iranian officials have been implementing multiple programs for years to collect this category of addicts, but these programs have not yet managed to gain the satisfaction of the executors and the public. Millions of people in Iran are directly and indirectly involved in the crises resulting from drug consumption, which, according to official reports, is increasing day by day.