Roshank Molaei Released After Being Whipped in Prison

The account of the "Iranian Women's Association" states that Roshank Molaei, a woman who reacted to the sexual harassment by a motorcyclist, has been released from Qarchak Varamin prison. The account noted that Ms. Molaei was freed on Wednesday, December 7, after the execution of the "whipping" punishment that had been issued against her. It is unclear what the extent of the whipping sentence was and how it was carried out. The "Iranian Women's Association" had previously reported that Ms. Molaei's trial took place on November 29, and she participated in this session "online" via video conference. The trial of a woman without mandatory hijab who clashed with a harasser in the street was highlighted. A video from November 10, 2023, showing Ms. Molaei confronting a male motorcyclist who was sexually harassing her went viral on social media. The Tehran police confirmed the date of this harassment and stated that it occurred on Africa Street (Jordan) in Tehran. Roshank Molaei's account on X (formerly Twitter), which was suspended shortly after, had published this video with the title "A Scene of Being a Woman in Iran." While the police announced that after investigations, a case regarding "harassment of women" was formed and sent to the judicial authorities for legal proceedings, no information has been released about the possible arrest of the motorcyclist. However, it has not yet been disclosed why this young woman, as a victim of harassment, was detained and why she was in custody. According to the "Iranian Women's Association," Roshank Molaei had also been arrested during the protests of 2022.