9 Reasons Why Mehri Talebi Darestani’s “Hijab Addiction Clinic” Idea is Controversial and Anti-Freedom

5. Backlash from the Public and the Symbolic Power of the Hijab

Darestani’s proposal has not gone without backlash. Many Iranians have taken to social media, expressing disbelief, frustration, and even ridicule over the idea of a clinic dedicated to “rehabilitating” those who choose not to wear the hijab. In a nation where people have increasingly pushed back against mandatory hijab laws, the “Hijab Addiction Clinic” concept feels out of sync with the prevailing sentiments of many citizens, especially younger generations who seek greater personal and social freedoms.

The hijab, a powerful cultural and religious symbol, should ideally represent a personal choice rather than an instrument of control. By insisting that all women wear the hijab and proposing a clinic to “reform” those who resist, Darestani’s initiative has triggered debate over the hijab’s true meaning. For many, the hijab represents modesty, spirituality, and cultural identity, but forcing it upon women or equating its absence with addiction strips it of these values, reducing it to a symbol of state control rather than one of individual faith and identity.