Sedighe Vasmaghi, Writer and Islam Scholar, Released from Evin Prison

Sedighe Vasmaghi, a writer and Islam scholar, has been released from Evin Prison following an exacerbation of her illness.

Ms. Vasmaghi was released from Evin Prison yesterday, on the 10th of Ordibehesht, due to the worsening of an illness that had previously caused her blindness. She was released on bail with a legal representative. On the day of her release, Sedighe Vasmaghi wrote and published a letter addressed to several international human rights organizations, including the United Nations Fact-Finding Committee. In this letter, she wrote: “For more than 40 days, I have been arrested and transferred to Evin Prison on the charge of removing my headscarf, in a brutal and violent manner by government officials who are legally under the command of the Commander-in-Chief, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, and due to my lack of vision, I have endured imprisonment with torture and hard labor.”

She, who was also deprived of proper medical care due to her deteriorating condition, while referring to her situation during detention, called on human rights organizations not to spare any effort in preventing the Islamic Republic from committing oppression, especially against women.

Ms. Vasmaghi, who last year removed her headscarf in protest against the suppression of women and girls, had announced that she does not consider the Islamic Republic’s compulsory hijab as legitimate Islamic hijab and that compulsory hijab is a futile political game that women will end through their resistance.

It is worth noting that Ms. Vasmaghi, in addition to losing her vision in recent weeks due to a genetic eye disease, has also contracted a heart condition in prison, according to statements made by her husband.