Protest in underwear in Iran: Mahla Daryaei released
University student Mahla Daryaei, who protested the government in her underwear in Iran, was taken to a mental hospital after being detained. However, authorities announced that she was released without any legal proceedings being initiated against her.
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Iranian authorities have released the Azad University student who protested the government by stripping down to her underwear in Tehran last month.
In a video that spread on social media at the beginning of November, Mahla Daryaei, whom her friends call 'Ahoo', was allegedly beaten by militias close to the Iranian government. Following this incident, Daryaei removed her clothes and protested the government in her underwear.
Iranian judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said that Daryaei was receiving treatment in a hospital and was subsequently handed over to her family. In a statement on Tuesday, Jahangir said, “After being referred to the hospital, it was understood that she was ill, so she was handed over to her family. No judicial file has been opened against her.”
RESONATED WORLDWIDE
The detention sparked international reactions. Many organizations, including Amnesty International, called for the woman's immediate and unconditional release. Daryaei's defiant stance appeared on the cover of Elle magazine.
The initial footage of the incident was released by a student movement. The movement claimed that Daryaei had argued with security forces for not wearing a headscarf and that she had removed her clothes during the argument.
Iranian authorities stated that after her protest, Daryaei was "mentally ill" and was taken to a psychiatric clinic. During the Mahsa Amini protests in 2022, Iran had presented similar claims regarding arrested protesters.
'MENTAL ILLNESS' AS SYSTEMATIC OPPRESSION
Following the detention, Iranian activists on social media stated that associating women's rights defenders with mental illness is a systematic method of oppression.
Speaking to the BBC, Azam Jangravi, an Iranian female activist who fled to Canada in 2018, said that her family was pressured by Iran to treat her as mentally ill.
Jangravi said, “My family did not put this pressure on me, but many families are under pressure and think this is the best way to protect their loved ones. Questioning mental health is the Islamic Republic’s way of discrediting women.” Jangravi had been sentenced to 3 years in prison for removing her headscarf during a protest.
Two years ago, Mahsa Amini died in police custody after being detained for not wearing her headscarf “properly”. It was reported that more than 500 people were killed in the nationwide protests that began after her death and lasted for months.