Faezeh Hashemi Released from Prison; Reactions: Result of 'Repentance for Remaining in the Circle of Power'

A few days after the publication of a letter by Faezeh Hashemi, daughter of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, from prison and claims regarding other political prisoners in the women's section of Evin prison, a lawyer announced that she has been released. Some observers described this action as 'the end of Islamic reformism with repentance in exchange for remaining in the circle of power.' Mohammad Hossein Aghasi, a lawyer, wrote on social media platform X on Wednesday, September 18, that 'after previous objections, the appeals court finally agreed to Faezeh Hashemi's conditional release, and she was freed from prison after serving two years.' Some social media users linked Faezeh Hashemi's release to the letter she published in recent days. Nima Afshar Naderi, a journalist, sarcastically commented, 'Faezeh Hashemi - after writing a letter but unrelated to them! - was released.' Jamshid Barzegar, another journalist, stated that 'the pardon of Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani's release after attacking female political prisoners is neither strange nor unexpected,' describing the action as 'continuing to pour clean water over the heads of the reformists of the Islamic Republic,' and said it was something that 'was solidified with the appointment of Pezeshkian as the head of the government.' According to Mr. Barzegar, 'the turmoil of Islamic reformism has finally settled with repentance in exchange for remaining in the circle of power.' On the eve of the second anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody and the beginning of nationwide protests, Faezeh Hashemi, daughter of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, one of the founders of the Islamic Republic, claimed in a letter based on 'a dream her cousin had' that there is a possibility of her being killed in prison. In this letter, while attacking female political prisoners, she defended 'structural reforms' in the Islamic Republic and claimed that 'cellmates' act as 'pressure groups inside the ward' that 'find the cellmate, determine their fate and set red lines, strip them of their freedom, label and slander them, threaten them, discard their votes, beat them, and create an atmosphere of terror and repression because they have not aligned with them or have criticized them.' The daughter of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani claimed that 'some defenders of imprisoned rights seem to have divided roles in dominating others, but with different roles,' and this situation is 'also observed in the opposition inside and outside the country and in cyberspace.' In response to these statements, several former political prisoners accused Faezeh Hashemi of colluding with the prison guards, and some pointed to her special privileges in prison. Ali Sharifzadeh Ardekan, a lawyer, emphasized that 'special privileges are prohibited,' addressing Faezeh Hashemi that 'political prisoners suffer from discrimination. Therefore, on Saturdays, do not cause them more suffering by witnessing discrimination that definitely impacts the way they treat you.' Alieh Matlabi Zadeh, a journalist and former political prisoner, also emphasized that Faezeh Hashemi has 'deliberately swapped the roles of jailer and prisoner' on the eve of the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death. Furthermore, Golrokh Iraei, a political prisoner in Evin, responded to Faezeh Hashemi's claims, emphasizing that 'the statements of security agencies and the prison organization against political prisoners have lost their effectiveness for public opinion,' although she stated that 'the security line does not falter and fulfills its goals in various ways.' Faezeh Hashemi's release comes at a time when judicial authorities in the Islamic Republic have kept many other female prisoners, including Fatemeh Sepahri, Rezvaneh Ahmadkhani, Shakila Monfared, Golrokh Iraei, Narges Mohammadi, Mahbubeh Rezaei, Sepideh Gholian, Zohreh Sarv, and Zeinab Jalalian, in prison despite severe health issues. Rezvaneh Ahmadkhani, a political prisoner who, despite doctors' warnings about the potential serious harm to her and her fetus, spent her pregnancy in prison, was only granted 10 days of leave for childbirth. An informed source close to this political prisoner indicated that this was aimed at avoiding hospital costs for the judiciary. Also see: 10-day leave for childbirth for Rezvaneh Ahmadkhani; an informed source told VOA: the judiciary's goal is to avoid hospital costs. Fatemeh Sepahri to Pezeshkian: You have already put your hands in the pockets of the looted Iranian people. The UN has declared the beating of Narges Mohammadi and other women in Evin prison as a form of 'torture.' Warning from Fatemeh Sepahri's brother about her health condition in prison: severe pain in the chest and hands. Confirmation of imprisonment and fines for Mashallah Karami and his supporters on the eve of the second anniversary of Mahsa's death. 'Endless' pressure from the government on the Bakhtiari family; weeks after Pouya's uncle, his uncle was also arrested. Human Rights Watch: The Islamic Republic commits injustice twice, executing or killing a family member and then arresting their loved ones.