Mahdi Ghoulian: Sepideh appeared in court without a hijab and chador

Mahdi Ghoulian, the brother of imprisoned civil activist Sepideh Ghoulian, announced that his sister attended court on Wednesday morning, July 28, without wearing a hijab and chador. Mr. Ghoulian rejected claims of his sister's absence from court on his Instagram page, stating that Sepideh was present from 8 AM but did not wear a hijab and chador. He added that her court session was canceled by the judiciary authorities because she refused to comply with the dress code, and Sepideh was returned to Evin Prison. The judiciary news agency, Mizan, affiliated with the judiciary, reported on Wednesday that Sepideh Ghoulian's court session was canceled due to what it called 'failure to comply with regulations and laws by her.' Furthermore, it was reported that a court session based on a complaint by Ameneh Sadat Zabihpour, a journalist from IRIB who is referred to on social media as the 'interrogator journalist,' was to be held against Ms. Ghoulian in Branch 1207 of the Shahid Kachoui Judicial Complex. In this context, two charges against Sepideh Ghoulian were announced: 'disturbing public opinion through the dissemination of falsehoods in cyberspace' and 'propaganda activities against the Islamic Republic in cyberspace.' The court was supposed to be held 'online in cyberspace,' but it was reported that Sepideh Ghoulian did not comply with the 'necessary regulations' for attending the public court, and thus the court was not held by the judge's decision. Initially, no details were published regarding what was referred to as the failure to comply with 'necessary regulations,' but speculations arose in virtual media suggesting that the reason for the court's cancellation was Sepideh Ghoulian's resistance against the imposition of 'mandatory hijab' for attending the court. Official Iranian news agencies, including the Tasnim news agency affiliated with the IRGC, later confirmed this issue and stated that 'removing the hijab' was the reason for Sepideh Ghoulian's non-transfer to the court. On Tuesday, Ms. Ghoulian, in a letter from Evin Prison, announced that she had previously stated she would not participate in the 'show trial of the Islamic Republic,' but since she was informed that the hearing regarding the complaint of 'interrogator journalist Ameneh Sadat Zabihpour' would be held publicly, she would attend. This political prisoner added: 'Since I have no fear of speaking the truth in public, I decided to participate in this unjust court and defend myself.' She expressed hope that among the multitude of security personnel and cultural workers affiliated with the Islamic Republic, she would see 'journalists and activists' who have come 'to seek the truth.' This political prisoner shouted 'Khamenei is Zahhak, we will bury you underground' after her release on March 15, 2023, in front of the prison, and was arrested hours later on her way home near Qom. She was then sentenced to two years in prison by the Islamic Revolutionary Court for insulting the leadership and was also subjected to 'prohibition from membership in political and social groups, prohibition on using a smartphone, and prohibition from residing in Tehran and neighboring provinces' for two years.