Statement from Dozens of Civil Activists: Immediately Release Ahoo Daryayi

Dozens of civil activists condemned the "repressive" and "violent" actions against Ahoo Daryayi, a detained student from the University of Science and Research, in a statement demanding her "immediate and unconditional release." The 222 signatories of this statement, a copy of which reached Voice of America on Monday, November 21, declared their support for individual freedoms, stating that Ahoo Daryayi's "forced hospitalization" in a psychiatric hospital is a clear act aimed at "silencing dissent" and a "blatant violation of human rights." According to reports, Ahoo Daryayi, a seventh-semester French language student at the Islamic Azad University of Science and Research in Tehran, undressed in protest on campus after "harassment by university security" for not complying with mandatory hijab laws. The signatories of this statement, many of whom are inside Iran, described Ahoo Daryayi as a "symbol of courage and resistance against violence and the humiliation of women" and wrote to the Islamic Republic officials: "Your foolish and cowardly attempts to silence the voice of the people through propaganda, insanity, and imprisonment will not deter us from our struggle for freedom and justice." The statement calls on the international community to "not remain silent in the face of this injustice" and to "demand that the Islamic Republic respect the fundamental rights of Iranian citizens." Notable signatories include Kouka Badaghi, Pouran Nazemi, Hoshang Asadi, Nosha Behami, Mina Ahadi, Shoaleh Pakrovan, Hashem Khashtar, Saeed Dehghan, Zartosht Ahmadiraghab, Rezvan Moghadam, Hassan Nayeb Hashem, Javad Laleh Mohammadi, and Raheleh Ahmadi. The World Student Assembly also expressed serious concern over Ahoo Daryayi's detention in a statement released on Friday, November 18. Amnesty International has also called for the "immediate and unconditional" release of this student, prevention of torture and other ill-treatment against her, and assurance of her right to access her family and lawyer. May Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, also noted that he is closely monitoring this incident and the reaction of the Islamic Republic officials, sharing a post related to the detained student on social media. The image of the "Science and Research Girl" in front of the Iranian consulate in Milan has been widely circulated. The World Student Assembly has called for the immediate release of the "Science and Research Girl." The Minister of Science has attacked the "Science and Research Girl," stating, "She did not observe the legal and customary hijab." Amnesty International has expressed concern over Ahoo Daryayi's transfer to a psychiatric hospital.