Amnesty International Calls for the Release of Farhad Mithaemi and the Abolition of Mandatory Hijab

Amnesty International has called for the release of Farhad Mithaemi, a civil activist, stating that the mandatory hijab laws in Iran should be abolished. The organization expressed regret that this civil activist has been accused of 'threatening national security' for possessing a badge that reads 'I protest against mandatory hijab.' According to the organization's statement, Farhad Mithaemi has faced various baseless security charges for supporting Iranian women's protests against the mandatory hijab. Farhad Mithaemi, a 48-year-old civil activist and physician, was arrested on August 1, and according to his mother, he has been on a hunger strike in protest of his detention and 'unjust charges' since then and has been transferred to a medical facility. Sediqa Pishnamaz, Mr. Mithaemi's mother, stated in an interview with Radio Farda that the reason for her son's arrest was possessing several badges that stated 'I protest against mandatory hijab.' In recent years, Mr. Mithaemi had participated in several sit-ins and protests related to prisoners' rights and mandatory hijab. On the morning of August 22, his mother submitted a letter to the 7th branch of the Evin Prison Prosecutor's Office to follow up on 'suspicious harassment and the broadcast of her son being beaten and coerced into confession during nighttime calls.' Reza Khandan, the husband of Nasrin Sotoudeh, previously mentioned that agents called Farhad Mithaemi's mother twice on the night of August 17 and 'broadcast the sounds of her son being beaten and coerced into confession.' Iranian judicial and security officials have not responded to these reports and have not disclosed the reason for Mr. Mithaemi's arrest. In related news, the head of the Women's Faction in Parliament has called for a 'documented report on the performance of the Guidance Patrol.' Human Rights Watch criticized the arrest of Instagram dancers in Iran. The Parliamentary Research Center reported a 50% decrease in people who value hijab. Agents from the Ministry of Intelligence raided Nasrin Sotoudeh's home. The arrests of Zia Nabavi and Farhad Mithaemi, two civil activists, have also been reported.