Health Ministry's Response to Minister and Journalist's Presence in Delivery Room: It Was in Full Compliance with Sharia Regulations

Following reactions to the presence of Bahram Einollahi, the Minister of Health of the Islamic Republic, and a journalist from state media in a delivery room during the inauguration of a hospital named after 'Martyr Soleimani' in Fardis, Alborz province, the ministry stated that their presence was in the operating room and not the delivery room, and that there was no interaction with the mother of the newborn during the filming. This occurred while many public hospitals in Iran do not even allow the husband of a woman to be present in the delivery room. Journalist Mohammad Hassan Najmi wrote on social media platform X: 'During delivery, they do not let the husband in, but the Minister of Health and someone who introduces themselves as a journalist entered the operating room with a camera and equipment.' The presence of the minister and journalist in the delivery room was also criticized by several media outlets within Iran. The Farhikhtegan newspaper, affiliated with Azad University, described this act as a 'grand advertisement report.' This presence took place amid intensified efforts for gender segregation in hospitals. In September, the Deputy Attorney General for Public Rights wrote a letter to the Minister of Health, calling for planning to ensure and allocate female medical staff in healthcare centers across the country. The letter stated that the presence of men in women's and delivery sections sometimes leads to 'psychological and emotional harm' to women. The issue of providing medical services to women by female medical staff is not new. Since 2001, a law known as the 'Gender Adjustment Plan,' approved by the Fifth Majlis, has been implemented, which stipulates that in hospitals, medical services for female patients must be provided by female staff, and medical services for male patients must be provided by male staff. After the approval of this plan, an 'Executive Regulation for the Adjustment of Administrative and Technical Affairs of Medical Institutions with Sacred Sharia Principles' was passed, which mandated the presence of either a 'mahram of the patient' or a female technical staff member during examinations of women and childbirth in 'necessary cases.' The Fars News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has repeatedly published articles regarding what it calls 'women's complaints' about the presence of men in women's examination rooms or delivery rooms. Since the implementation of the so-called 'Chastity and Hijab' plan, strictness regarding adherence to Islamic hijab and gender segregation in public spaces has increased. Article 12, Section 3 of this law obligates the Ministry of Health to 'create a dedicated environment for providing medical services except in cases where the presence of non-mahram is unavoidable.' Many doctors say that laws like these are not enforceable. Nevertheless, Islamic Republic officials continue to propose new laws in this regard. Recently, the Secretary of the 'Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice' headquarters announced that this headquarters, in collaboration with the Social Security Organization, is designing 12 models of 'Islamic surgical clothing' for patients in the operating room to ensure that 'Sharia limits' are observed. Mohammad Hossein Taheri Akardi told the IRNA news agency: 'The Social Security Organization has a very good collaboration with the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice headquarters so that we can practically implement the idea of 'Islamic surgical clothing' and address the concerns about the non-observance of Sharia limits for patients and medical staff during surgeries.' Mahyar Saidian, a doctor and editor-in-chief of the Medical Knowledge Monthly, wrote on platform X that this decision has left the medical community 'dumbfounded.' He added: 'The type of patient clothing in the operating room has international standards. There has been no voice from the Ministry of Health or the medical system. This is an example of interference in medical affairs.' The design of 'Islamic surgical clothing' for patients in the operating room is claimed by the Secretary of the Promotion of Virtue to be for 'observing Sharia limits.' The Guardian Council published details on the reasons for rejecting the 'Chastity and Hijab' bill, citing the use of ambiguous concepts and 'non-Persian' words. Business operations have been halted at the mandatory hijab station; 'therapeutic closures' continue. An education official stated: 'We have been tasked' to pay attention to 'gender identity' in educational programs. The Minister of Education of the Islamic Republic announced the gender segregation of textbooks. Gender segregation of medical students is being implemented, from 'Sharia limits' for 'looking at non-mahram' to the prohibition of perfume.