A female university student in Iran has sparked international concern after she was detained and transferred to a psychiatric unit following a protest against the country’s strict dress code. The student, identified as Ahoo Daryaei on social media, gained attention after a video went viral showing her walking around the Islamic Azad University in Tehran half-naked.
The Iranian government has declared Daryaei mentally unfit, calling her a “troubled individual.” Authorities claim that after being detained by university security guards, she was deemed to be suffering from severe mental pressure and a mental disorder. However, this narrative has been met with skepticism and alarm from human rights organizations.
Amnesty International has previously documented evidence of torture and abuse inflicted on prisoners in Iran who are labeled as mentally unstable. The organization expressed deep concern about Daryaei’s well-being, fearing that she may be subjected to torture or ill-treatment within the psychiatric facility.
Daryaei’s protest stemmed from an alleged physical assault by campus security guards after she refused to comply with the university’s dress code. The Center for Human Rights in Iran, a prominent watchdog, characterized her transfer to the psychiatric unit as “kidnapping,” highlighting a pattern of the Iranian government using involuntary psychiatric hospitalizations to silence dissent and discredit protesters.
While government officials claim to be approaching the situation with a “social lens,” aiming to address Daryaei’s “problems as a troubled individual,” their actions have done little to alleviate concerns about her safety and freedom. The lack of transparency regarding the location and conditions of the psychiatric facility has further fueled anxieties among human rights advocates.
The international community is closely monitoring this situation, urging the Iranian government to provide clear information about Daryaei’s whereabouts and ensure her safety. The case has brought renewed attention to the broader issue of human rights violations in Iran, particularly the suppression of dissent and the abuse of mental health resources for political purposes.
