Closure of Five Specialized Centers for Vulnerable Women in Tehran Over the Past 32 Months

The newspaper Etemad has reported that five shelters for vulnerable women in Tehran have been closed in the past 32 months, with the latest being the evacuation of the 'Saraye Ghazal' building in southern Tehran. According to the report published on Tuesday, May 25, the municipality of Tehran issued an eviction order for 'Saraye Ghazal', which belongs to the charity 'Tolu-e Bi-Neshanha', on April 23. 'Saraye Ghazal', located on a side street of Navab Highway and near a metro station, has provided supportive, health, and medical services to vulnerable women for years. Akbar Rajabi, the CEO of 'Tolu-e Bi-Neshanha', stated that the Tehran municipality has issued an eviction order for a property that had been under the charity's management 'indefinitely', and according to this order, the property must be vacated within a week. He also explained that 'the guidance and planning of the remaining Tolu centers, including the shelter for at-risk children and homeless women and men, were managed through this central office, in addition to providing preventive and therapeutic services and support for vulnerable women, with at least 80 women currently receiving services from this center.' The report also mentions that previously, 'Khaneh Khorshid', an institute for supporting vulnerable and homeless addicted women in the Darvazeh Ghar area, 'Noor Sepid Hedayat', a center for accommodation and harm reduction services for vulnerable and homeless women located in Shoosh Square, and 'Shabaneh Shelter for Women', a shelter for vulnerable and homeless women in the Darvazeh Ghar area, have also been closed. According to Etemad, the organization Doctors Without Borders, which provided supportive and medical services to homeless and addicted men, women, and children in the Molavi area, was another center that has closed in the past 32 months—from the fall of 2021 to May 2023. All these centers were established and operated by non-governmental organizations and community support, focusing on providing services to vulnerable women in society. In 2022, the director of 'Noor Sepid Hedayat', a 24-hour harm reduction center for women, reported an attack by municipal agents on this center, leading to the escape of clients.