Roya Zakeri, a 31-year-old native of East Azerbaijan, has taken a stand much like countless other women and girls protesting gender apartheid in the Islamic Republic of Iran. On October 15, 2023, during one such protest, Hijab enforcement agents violently confronted her in Tabriz. After the altercation, the authorities announced her transfer to the Razi Psychiatric Hospital in Tabriz, citing a "mental problem." By October 21, however, she was relocated to the Intelligence Department detention center. A computer science graduate, Roya has since been hailed on social media as the "Daughter of Tabriz." However, her current circumstances remain shrouded in mystery.
Historically, there have been alarming instances where the Islamic Republic has labeled political dissenters with "mental disorders" after their detainment. These victims are often involuntarily admitted to hospitals or mental institutions where they are reportedly subjected to psychoactive drugs. Such interventions, including unsettling injections and, in some cases, electric shocks, are known to induce anxiety, tremors, and stuttering, among other afflictions. The tragic and questionable death of political prisoner Behnam Mahjoubi in prison under similar circumstances cannot be ignored.
These tactics, insidious in nature, are crafted to shatter the resistance of political prisoners, obliterating their spirit and individuality. Furthermore, the authorities have historically tried to undermine their protests by medicalizing the prisoner's condition, suggesting that only a disturbed mind could resist their rule. Oppressive regimes, both past and present, have frequently weaponized psychology and psychiatry against their opponents.
Roya has been consistently denied her fundamental right to legal counsel throughout her imprisonment, as directed by the prosecutor. Our concerns for Roya Zakeri's health and safety are paramount. Her brave resistance against the mandatory hijab and her passionate declaration of "Death to the dictator" echo a widespread demand for justice, dignity, and freedom. Roya Zakeri must be released without delay.