Over 300 Political and Civil Activists Demand Immediate Release of Sedigheh Vasseghi

More than 300 political and civil activists issued a protest statement expressing "serious concern" over the health condition of Sedigheh Vasseghi, a religious scholar critical of the Islamic Republic, and called for her "immediate release" from Evin Prison. These 320 activists deemed the charge of "opposing mandatory hijab" against Vasseghi as "baseless" and stated that "pressuring and inflicting the suffering of imprisonment" on this basis does not lend credibility to Islam. Recently, Vasseghi mentioned in a message from Evin Prison that "not covering her hair" was among the accusations against her, stating that for this reason, she has endured "imprisonment" and has been deprived of "the basic right of a prisoner, which is to meet with family." The protesting activists emphasized in their statement that "imposing beliefs and obstructing fundamental freedoms and civil rights, along with repressive actions against critical and enlightening positions regarding the performance of the Islamic Republic of Iran, does not constitute an advantage for the Iranian government." They warned in part of their protest statement about the consequences of "imprisoning dissenters, critics, and reformers," calling it a cause for "the spread of despair and the increasing decline of social capital" in Iran. In her note from Evin Prison, Vasseghi criticized the "insufficient sensitivity of civil society and intellectuals towards the status of women" in Iran, stating that it has provided an opportunity for the Islamic Republic to "extend its reach into all aspects of women's existence." Vasseghi's arrest, which occurred on March 16 of last year at her home in Tehran, has faced criticism. Among them, 17 religious reformists issued a statement criticizing Vasseghi's deprivation of medical services and expressing concern about her physical condition, holding the Islamic Republic responsible for the health of this imprisoned scholar and demanding her unconditional release. Following a deterioration in her health condition, HRANA reported that Vasseghi was transferred to a hospital outside the prison. Vasseghi expressed concern about the condition of a fellow inmate in Evin: Raheleh Rahimipour, who is "suffering from a brain tumor." Vasseghi did not comply with mandatory hijab in Evin Prison; Narges Mohammadi joined her sit-in. The statement from 17 religious reformists: The Islamic Republic is responsible for Sedigheh Vasseghi's health.