Dozens of Renowned Humanities Professors Demand the Release of Homa Hoodfar

More than one hundred and seventy renowned humanities professors from various universities in Europe and the United States have issued a statement calling for the immediate release and return to Canada of Homa Hoodfar, a well-known Iranian-Canadian anthropologist. The 65-year-old Hoodfar, who holds Iranian, Canadian, and Irish citizenship, was arrested on June 7 after being summoned to the Security Prosecutor's Office in Tehran, but the reason for her arrest remains unclear. The statement from these academic figures criticizes the multiple summonses Hoodfar has faced in recent months, the seizure of her computer, phone, and passports, and her lengthy interrogations by the IRGC Intelligence. It also highlights her lack of access to a lawyer, family members, and medical necessities. Among the signatories are notable figures such as Leila Ahmed, Noam Chomsky, Chandra Talpade Mohanty, Richard Falk, Nadia Ali, and Talal Asad. The statement recalls Hoodfar's situation since last March, noting that a bail order was issued for her on the eve of Nowruz, but she was not allowed to leave the country. It mentions that since then, Hoodfar has been interrogated more than ten times without the presence of a lawyer and was arrested and transferred to Evin Prison after being summoned for questioning on June 7. The statement asserts that the IRGC has repeatedly sought to fabricate a case against Hoodfar over the past three months but has not produced any evidence, and security officials have not formally charged her. The academic figures view Hoodfar's arrest as a clear violation of academic freedoms recognized even by the Islamic Republic. They express concern for her health, noting her deprivation of medical access since her transfer to Evin Prison, and demand her immediate release and permission to return to Canada to pursue medical treatment and fulfill her academic commitments, including supervising students whose graduation depends on her presence. Concurrently, the North American Middle East Studies Center has also written a letter to Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, calling for her release and the dismissal of all charges against her. Previously, Amnesty International linked Hoodfar's arrest to her peaceful activities, referring to her as a 'prisoner of conscience,' and urged the Canadian government to take all necessary diplomatic actions to ensure her immediate release and safe return to Canada. The Canadian government has also expressed concern about Hoodfar's situation and emphasized that it will do 'whatever is necessary' for her release.