Sepideh Roshno Summoned to Serve Prison Sentence

Sepideh Roshno's brother, an author and translator who protested against mandatory hijab, says his sister must report to Evin Prison to serve her sentence. On Tuesday, July 23, Saman Roshno wrote on Instagram that 'yesterday, the execution of sentences office called, and Sepideh must present herself at Evin Prison on Saturday, July 29.' He stated that his sister has been summoned 'multiple times' since March 10 of last year through notifications and phone calls. The Administrative Justice Court converted Ms. Roshno's prison sentence into a fine, but 'since the charge has not changed, the suspended sentence will be enforced.' Sepideh Roshno announced on February 15 of last year that her sentence of three years and 11 months had been executed and that she must report to prison. This author and translator announced this news on her Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) account, adding that 'as soon as the case reached the execution of sentences, she was banned from leaving the country.' Ms. Roshno was arrested in the summer of 2022 after a video of her protesting against a veiled woman on a bus went viral on social media. After her temporary release, she continued her civil protests against mandatory hijab despite significant pressure. According to this author, her sentence of three years and seven months is related to the first case concerning the protest on the 'bus,' a four-month sentence for the second case related to 'announcing the suspension of the university,' and a fine of one and a half million tomans related to the third case, which was 'appearing with a chosen outfit on the day of the trial of the second case.'