Re-arrest of Sepideh Qolian Hours After Release

Re-arrest of Sepideh Qolian Hours After Release

“Sepideh Qolian,” born in 1973, is a graduate of veterinary medicine and law student, civil rights activist, and political prisoner from Iran. She, who was present during the 2018 protests in defense of workers’ rights at Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company, was released on Wednesday, March 15, after spending 4 years and 7 months in prison.

She, who had been transferred from Khuzestan to Evin Prison, ward 209 for women, boldly and without a headscarf cried out “Khamenei the tyrant, we will bury you” in front of Evin Prison’s gates as a sign of protest upon her release.

Sepideh immediately posted a message on her Twitter account after her release stating: “After four years and seven months, I was released from the Haft Tappeh case. This time I came out in hopes of Iran’s freedom! In hopes of freedom, may my dear ones Sepideh Kashani, Niloufar Bayani, Zahra Zehtabchi, Bahareh Hedayat, Golrokh Iraee, Nahid Taghavi, and all political prisoners, especially imprisoned women, be freed very soon.”

News published on social media following Sepideh’s release indicates that Sepideh was detained on her way to Khuzestan on the Qom to Arak highway by security forces who attacked their vehicle, separated her from her family, and took her with them.

Sepideh was not arrested for mandatory hijab, nor for protesting against the system, but solely for defending the rights of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company workers and for civil activism on social networks. The Islamic Republic system, which always claims to uphold freedom of speech for its people, does not even allow people to defend their rights and expects people to support the system.

However, Sepideh’s cry has reached the ears of the entire world. The Islamic Republic regime also knows that if anything happens to Sepideh, it will face serious reactions from the people of Iran and abroad. Just as Amnesty International had previously reacted to her detention.