Iranian scholar and activist Sedigheh Vasmaghi, charged with appearing in public without the mandatory head scarf, has said she will not appear in court, calling it “illegitimate.”
Vasmaghi, who was arrested at her home by plainclothes officers on March 16, was charged with “propaganda against the system in cyberspace” and “appearing in public places without the Shari’a-compliant hijab.”
Though she wore a hijab for years, Vasmaghi has openly opposed the Islamic republic’s hijab law, posting pictures and messages on social media condemning the government’s crackdown on offenses related to the hijab and its repression of women, as well as appearing in public without a head scarf.
She has also been highly critical of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling him a “dictator” and slamming the country’s “oppressive” leadership.
Vasmaghi said she will not appear for a hearing at the Islamic Revolutionary Court over the charges because of its “unjust judges” and a system she does not recognize as lawful.
Some sources say Vasmaghi’s health has deteriorated significantly while she was detained, as she suffers from heart and blood-pressure issues.
She has reportedly refused to wear the mandatory hijab during her transfer to the prison infirmary, prompting prison officials to deny her medical attention with only a nurse with limited medical supplies attending to her in jail.
Mohammad Ebrahimzadeh, Vasmaghi’s husband, has detailed the circumstances of her arrest, noting that agents threatened to “break down the door” before confiscating her personal items, including mobile phone, computer, and medication.
The case has highlighted the ongoing struggle for human rights and freedom of expression in Iran, particularly concerning women’s rights and the mandatory hijab law.
The death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in September 2022 after her arrest for allegedly improperly wearing the hijab led to months of nationwide protests that thrust women’s rights and public disapproval of the hijab law to the forefront.
Iranian authorities responded by carrying out a violent crackdown that resulted in the deaths of over 500 protesters. They also implemented a stricter hijab law with harsher penalties and longer prison sentences for those who disobey it.
The fact-finding committee of the UN Human Rights Council labeled these government actions against women as a “crime against humanity.”
Source » rferl