Afghan Researcher Deported for Hijab Violation in Iran

Following reports of the deportation of Kobra Gholami, an Afghan social researcher and master's student at Alzahra University, due to not adhering to mandatory hijab rules, Radio Farda has learned that she has been transferred to the White Stone camp. This camp is one of several for Afghan migrants located 30 kilometers from Fariman in Razavi Khorasan, where migrants are held after being deported from Iran. Kobra Gholami was studying and researching 'the identity of migrant women' at Alzahra University. On Friday, August 12, the Shargh network reported, citing informed sources and friends of this Afghan social researcher, that she was summoned to the Foreign Nationals Office after receiving several hijab warnings, and her passport was confiscated. Subsequently, she was detained and deported without a convincing reason. It is unclear whether the hijab warning was sent to her via text message or communicated in another way. Kobra Gholami was born in Afghanistan but has lived in Iran for over 27 years since the age of 4. Her friends on social media have stated that she did not even have the opportunity to say goodbye to her family and friends. One of her friends, Shima Vezvayi, wrote that since hearing this news, they have been trying to contact the Khorasan governorate, refugee affairs, and the Foreign Nationals Office. According to Ms. Vezvayi, organizations that Kobra Gholami has been active in are also engaged in correspondence. She wrote that after following up, they learned that Ms. Gholami is still within Iran's borders and expressed hope that this decision would be reconsidered. The news of Kobra Gholami's arrest and deportation due to a hijab warning has sparked widespread reactions from civil and human rights activists. Social media users, considering the unsafe conditions in Afghanistan, have expressed concern for Ms. Gholami's safety and health, calling for her deportation to be halted with the hashtag 'Bring Kobra Back.' Reza Shafakhah, a lawyer in Tehran, wrote on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter): 'Based on which law is the punishment for not adhering to the mandatory hijab forced deportation? And that too without trial and the right to choose a lawyer?'