Iranian Officials State Woman Detained After Undressing Protest Has Been Released Without Charges

Iranian authorities have announced that an Iranian woman will not face prosecution after she removed her clothing down to her underwear in what appeared to be an anti-hijab demonstration at a university in Tehran. Earlier in November, a video widely circulated on social media depicted the moment the woman, identified by BBC Persian as Ahoo Daryaei, undressed on a university campus before being forcibly apprehended. A spokesperson for the Iranian judiciary confirmed that the woman received medical treatment in a hospital and was subsequently returned to her family. Her apprehension drew international condemnation, with Amnesty International among the organizations advocating for her immediate and unconditional freedom. Judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir stated on Tuesday: “Considering that she was sent to the hospital, and it was found that she was ill, she was handed over to her family… and no judicial case has been filed against her.” A student movement organization was the first to publish the video of the arrest, reporting that Ms Daryaei had an altercation with security agents regarding her refusal to wear a headscarf, which led to her disrobing during the scuffle. At the time, Iranian authorities had indicated that Ms Daryaei was “sick” and had been transferred to a psychiatric ward. This instance is not the first in which Iranian authorities have characterized a woman protesting compulsory hijab regulations as having a mental illness. Following Ms Daryaei’s arrest, Iranian activists on social media denounced what they described as a recurring practice of diagnosing women’s rights advocates. One woman, who sought refuge in Canada after leaving Iran in 2018, recounted that her family was coerced by the Iranian regime to assert that she suffered from a mental illness. Azam Jangravi, who departed after receiving a three-year prison sentence for taking off her headscarf during a demonstration, commented: “My family didn’t do it, but many families under pressure do, thinking it’s the best way to protect their loved ones. This is how the Islamic Republic tries to discredit women, by questioning their mental health.” The requirement for women in Iran to cover their hair and adhere to modest dress codes was instituted after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish woman, passed away in police custody two years prior, having been apprehended for allegedly not wearing her hijab “properly”. Reports indicate that over 500 individuals lost their lives during the nationwide protests that spanned several months and commenced after her death. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.