Mental Health Professionals Protest Islamic Republic's Sentences; Psychotherapy Does Not Change Beliefs

More than seventy psychologists, psychiatrists, and psychotherapists from around the world, initiated by the North American Iranian Psychiatric Association, wrote a letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights urging the organization to take a "firm stance" against the Islamic Republic's misuse of psychology and psychiatry. The aim of this letter is to draw the United Nations' attention to the "deeply concerning" recent developments in Iran, particularly regarding the treatment of women who "bravely defend their fundamental human rights." The letter notes that in recent weeks, the judicial system of the Islamic Republic of Iran has sentenced several women to undergo psychotherapy due to their free choice of clothing and defiance of mandatory hijab, citing "fabricated" diagnoses such as "antisocial personality" in their rulings and mandating ongoing treatments to change their beliefs and behaviors. Dr. Anahita Basirnia, a psychiatrist and Yale University professor who signed the letter, told Voice of America: "No authority other than psychiatrists and psychologists trained in this field can diagnose psychiatric disorders for anyone." Dr. Basirnia added: "Having a mental disorder is not a crime at all, and undergoing these courses cannot be considered a punishment in these rulings." The letter from Iranian mental health professionals abroad states that the blatant abuse of psychiatry and psychology as a "tool of repression" represents another "horrific violation" of human rights. The signatories wrote that the judicial system of the Islamic Republic resorts to fabricated psychiatric diagnoses to silence dissenting voices instead of preserving the dignity of citizens. Dr. Basirnia emphasized that "issuing such rulings is not only scientifically incorrect and morally unjustifiable, but it can also damage the status of psychology and psychiatry in society, increase the stigma of psychiatric and psychological illnesses, disrupt public trust in psychiatrists and psychotherapists, and create the impression that having psychiatric disorders could be considered a crime and that psychotherapy could be viewed as a punishment." She stressed that "psychotherapy and no other treatment can ever change someone's beliefs." Previously, four reputable psychology and psychiatry organizations had warned in an open letter to the head of Iran's judiciary about the misuse of psychology and psychiatry by the Islamic Republic. The heads of these associations stated in part of their letter that diagnosing mental disorders is the prerogative of psychiatrists, not judges, and called for refraining from "labeling individuals' behaviors with psychiatric diagnostic terms." Azadeh Samadi, a prominent Iranian actress, was one of those referred to psychology centers for treatment of what was termed "antisocial behavior" due to her "removal of the hijab" and was asked to present her health certificate to the authorities. The Hamshahri newspaper, affiliated with the Tehran municipality, expressed satisfaction with this ruling, attributing the hijab removal of female actors to "mental illness" and "self-deprecation." Additionally, see: Continued crackdown on opponents of mandatory hijab; Afsaneh Bayegan sentenced to "treatment for mental illness." Afsaneh Bayegan, a famous Iranian actress, was also sentenced to mandatory visits to psychology centers for treatment of what was called "mental illness of antisocial personality" due to her non-compliance with the mandatory hijab. These two actresses received other sentences, including imprisonment, travel bans, and restrictions on using social media. Following widespread protests in Iran, an increasing number of women, including actresses and athletes, have removed their headscarves as a sign of opposition. The Iranian government has attempted in recent months to prevent women's civil disobedience by issuing heavy judicial sentences. Some of these artists, including Katayoun Riahi, Hengameh Qaziani, Afsaneh Bayegan, and Taraneh Alidoosti, were detained for a period or summoned and interrogated by security agencies. A lawyer's reaction to the "unconventional rulings" of the Islamic Republic's judiciary; a lament for justice. One of the rulings related to hijab was overturned; the Supreme Court: The court's reasoning is incorrect. A member of the legal committee of the House of Cinema resigned: I consider the prevailing practice contrary to human dignity and human rights. Widespread user protests against the headline and photo of the Tehran municipality's organ; it is shameful.