The Court Hearing for Sepideh Gholian Canceled Due to Her 'Non-Compliance with the Law'

On Wednesday, the Mizan news agency, affiliated with the judiciary, reported the cancellation of Sepideh Gholian's court hearing due to what was described as her 'non-compliance with regulations and the law.' This morning, July 18, a court session was scheduled based on a complaint by Ameneh Sadat Zabihpour, a journalist from IRIB, who is referred to on social media as the 'interrogator journalist,' against Sepideh Gholian, a political activist opposing the Islamic Republic, to be held in Branch 1207 of the Shahid Kachoui Judicial Complex. According to reports, this court was supposed to be held 'online in the virtual space,' but it was said that Gholian did not comply with the 'necessary regulations' for attending the public court, and thus the judge decided not to hold the session. Initially, there was no news regarding the details of what was termed 'non-compliance,' but speculations arose in social media that the reason for the cancellation was Gholian's resistance to the imposition of 'mandatory hijab' for attending the court. Shortly after, official Iranian news agencies, including the Tasnim news agency affiliated with security institutions, confirmed this matter and stated that 'unveiling' was the reason for Gholian's non-transfer to the court. On Tuesday, July 27, Gholian wrote a letter from Evin Prison announcing 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 the 'interrogator journalist, Ameneh Sadat Zabihpour,' would be held publicly, she would attend. This political prisoner added, 'Since I have no fear of recounting the truth in public, I decided to participate in this unjust court and defend myself.' She expressed hope to see 'journalists and activists' among the many security personnel and cultural workers affiliated with the Islamic Republic who have 'come to seek the truth.'