To:

American Psychiatric Association

American Medical Association

American Academy of Pediatrics

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

American Academy of Family Physicians 

American Psychological Association

Canadian Medical Association 

Canadian Pediatric Society

Canadian Psychiatric Association

Canadian Psychological Association

 

Over the past four weeks, there has been a widespread uprising in Iran against the brutality of the government of Islamic Republic of Iran sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in custody of the so-called Iranian “morality police”. Government forces have murdered peaceful protesters, raided schools, and violently attacked, arrested, and killed children. Medical facilities and ambulances have been used to crack down on the protests. We, the Iranian healthcare community practicing in North America together with our colleagues, are writing to express our abhorrence of cruelty against innocent people, children and youth in Iran. 

Below are a few examples of the brutalities and human rights violations which we believe relate to our profession. Our responsibility as physicians and healthcare workers is to stop this brutality with any power we have.

1) So far, more than 200 protestors have been killed and 1000s have been arrested. According to credible human right organizations at least 32 children have been murdered by the governmental forces over the past 5 weeks. 

2) Security and paramilitary agents have frequently used lethal force in various forms against protestors including baton blows to the head and neck, and shooting protestors with pellet guns or live ammunition in their head, neck, and chest. 

3) Security forces have raided schools and harassed, beaten, and arrested children. In the city of Ardabil, children were forced without parental consent to participate in a pro-government gathering. As they chanted pro-democracy slogans, they were harassed and beaten and a middle schooler girl was allegedly beaten to death. 

4) Military and paramilitary forces have kidnapped children and taken them into confinement in “juvenile detention centers” for “psychological treatment”. In other words, “psychological treatment” is being used in these centers to suppress the freedom of expression, and the right to exercise peaceful protests. A group of Iranian psychiatrists and child psychiatrists in Iran have opposed this action in an open letter. 

5) As per the public report by this government, the average age of arrested people is 15 years-old. Their conditions and whereabouts of many are unknown. Some families have received their children’s dead bodies several days after their child disappeared. 

6) There is documented evidence of using medical utilities and facilities to mobilize armed forces and to arrest protestors. This has continued despite medical professionals’ open condemnation. Several physicians who have tried to help the wounded have themselves been arrested and interrogated by the Iranian security and intelligence agents.  

7) Female protesters have been sexually assaulted as they are arrested. There are reports of protestors being threatened with rape while in police custody.

8)  Anecdotal reports from psychologist colleagues in Iran indicate that the Islamic Republic security forces have pressured them to run courses of “compatibility with governmental rules” for the arrested youth. The mental health workers who rejected this order have been persecuted by the police. 

9) The official position of the Iranian Psychological Association (IPA) with respect to the recent pro-democracy protests has been highly disturbing. In a recent letter to the Islamic Republic President, the IPA president, Mohammad Hatami, advocated for incorporating what he referred to as “preventive mental healthcare” into military, police, and paramilitary institutions to ensure “security and a sense of calm in the society” essentially supporting the role of “psychological treatment” and “correctional facilities'' in suppressing dissent. This is in an absolute violation of ethical practice of mental healthcare. 

10) Evidence suggests that children are being used as part of the governmental paramilitary force to crush the protests. Photos circulating in social media and confirmed by fact-check websites show young teenagers in paramilitary clothing, sometimes wearing helmets or holding batons.

We urge that your medical association opposes and condemns:  

- The acts of brutality and stands up against these inhumane behaviors by this government.
- The violation of medical ethics by this government.
- The brutality against innocent people, particularly adolescents and young adults
- The physical and psychological abuse of anyone including children under the disguise of psychological intervention for political oppression
- Using psychiatry and psychology as a tool to pathologize the fight for fundamental right of free expression

Thank you for your immediate attention.

Respectfully,