The International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology is deeply concerned about the increase in human rights violations in Iran.  Since September 2022, when 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was detained and apparently murdered in custody of the “morality police” for not wearing the hijab in accordance with Iran’s strict dress requirements for women, the women of Iran have risen up. Many peaceful demonstrators are being jailed, tortured, and publicly hanged.  We strongly condemn these violent acts as well as the ongoing detention, rape, torture, and murder of Iranian women and other innocent Iranian people by the Iranian government. We believe that women have the same rights as men: to speak freely, to make autonomous decisions, and to have ownership of their own bodies. The Iranian women’s fight against forced-hijabs is an attempt to regain their dignity and freedom which has suffered during 40 years of chronic and pervasive oppression. We stand in solidarity with these women and citizens who are fighting for freedom and democracy. We are in awe of their bravery and heroic determination to demand women’s right to life and liberty.

Oppressive and violent acts towards women are all too common. Gender discrimination, sexism, and misogyny damage the emotional well-being of women, non-binary people, and LGBTQ communities around the world. Our understanding that women play a central role in healthy families and societies underscores that basic human rights, including self-determination and freedom of expression, are necessary foundations for emotionally, psychologically, and physically healthy individuals, families and societies. Attacks on any person’s freedom, well-being, and dignity, constitute a deadly and infectious assault on our sense of what is necessary for human beings to thrive. Women who are living in oppressive regimes need witnesses to name and condemn this assault on their very existence.  The IAPSP stands as one of those witnesses.