Kobra Gholami, Afghan Student Residing in Iran, Avoids Deportation Thanks to Women's Rights Activists

Women's rights activists in Iran reported that Kobra Gholami, a researcher and student at Alzahra University, has not been deported and will remain in Iran. On Friday, August 3, the Shargh news network cited informed sources and friends of this Afghan social researcher, stating that Kobra Gholami was summoned to the Foreign Nationals Office after receiving several warnings regarding her hijab, and her passport was confiscated. The report indicated that after her passport was seized, she was detained without a convincing reason and was on the verge of deportation. On the same day, Radio Farda learned that she had been transferred to the White Stone Camp near Mashhad. According to women's rights activists familiar with her case, Kobra Gholami, born in Afghanistan, has lived in Iran for over 27 years since the age of four. Friends of Ms. Gholami wrote on social media that she did not even have the opportunity to say goodbye to her family and friends. On Sunday, August 6, several female journalists and women's rights activists in Iran reported that after extensive efforts, Ms. Gholami was 'returned to her family [in Iran] on Sunday afternoon.' The news of Kobra Gholami's arrest and impending deportation due to hijab warnings sparked widespread reactions from civil and human rights activists. Social media users expressed concern for Ms. Gholami's safety and health given the precarious security situation in Afghanistan, calling for her deportation to be halted with the hashtag 'Bring Kobra Back.' Shima Vezvayi, one of Kobra Gholami's friends, wrote on X on Sunday: 'We have learned that our dear Kobra Gholami has returned to her family.' Zhila Bani-Yaghoubi, a journalist and former political prisoner residing in Iran, also wrote on the same platform with the hashtag 'Kobra Gholami': 'When racists failed with all their fake news and hate-mongering, one cannot help but be happy.' Kobra Gholami has been studying and researching 'the identity of migrant women' at Alzahra University.