Amnesty International calls for the release of Yasman Ariani
Amnesty International issued an appeal calling for immediate action regarding the unconditional release of Yasmeen Ariani, a civil rights activist imprisoned in Iran.
On Wednesday, November 5, Amnesty International announced on its Telegram channel that this civil activist was sentenced to 16 years in prison for trying to abolish compulsory hijab, and that her punishment is part of a widespread crackdown on women who are working against the discriminatory compulsory hijab law.
The call states that the authorities of the Islamic Republic should not be allowed to take away the best years of Yasman's life because she believes that women should be free to choose their clothing.
This human rights organization calls on people and human rights activists around the world to support this organization in the release of Yasman Ariani, a civil rights activist and theater actress, by signing this appeal and calling on the Iranian authorities to release her immediately and unconditionally.
Yasman Ariani was arrested by police officers at her father's home on Wednesday, April 11, and just one day after her arrest, her mother, Munireh Arabshahi, was also arrested and sent to prison.
About 16 days after the arrest of Ms. Ariani and her mother, Mojgan Keshavarz, a civil activist and protester of compulsory hijab, was also arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents at her home on Thursday, May 25, in front of her 9-year-old daughter.
According to available information, the reason for the arrest of these three people was that they were celebrating International Women's Day by giving flowers to women in the Tehran Metro.
Nearly four months after their arrest by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, these three civil activists have been sentenced to 16 years in prison each on charges of "gathering and colluding with the intention of acting against national security," "propaganda against the system," and "encouraging and providing the conditions for corruption and prostitution." According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, 10 years of this sentence will be applicable to each of them as the maximum punishment.
In another part of this call, Amnesty International once again calls on people and human rights activists to sign this call and demand that the Iranian authorities immediately and unconditionally release all women's rights defenders who are in prison for peacefully protesting against the mandatory hijab.
In June of this year, this human rights organization published a report that, while recounting the role of compulsory hijab in the daily lives of Iranian women and girls, pointed out the sometimes very violent treatment of women who do not wear a full hijab by moral security police officers.
The US State Department has also repeatedly condemned the Islamic Republic regime's violent actions against the Iranian people under various pretexts, including attacks on the freedom to choose the type of clothing, as well as the repeated and persistent violations of the rights of Iranian citizens by agents of the regime.
Source: Voice of America
