Iran releases jailed activist protesting towards obligatory hijab after lengthy starvation strike

Iran has launched an imprisoned activist, who had been protesting towards the obligatory hijab, after a protracted starvation strike.

Dubai,UPDATED: Feb 11, 2023 07:30 IST

Imprisoned Iranian activist Farhad Meysami, who’s reported to have gone on a starvation strike, is seen at Rajai Shahr jail in Karaj, Iran, on this social media picture. (Photo: Reuters)

By Reuters: Iran on Friday launched hunger-striking jailed dissident Farhad Meysami, the Iranian judiciary stated, every week after supporters had warned that he risked dying for protesting towards the obligatory sporting of the hijab.

Images on social media of an emaciated Meysami, who had been in jail since 2018 for supporting girls activists protesting towards Iran’s scarf coverage, had gone viral and brought on outrage amongst social media customers and worldwide rights group.

“Following the approval by the leader of the revolution (Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) of the recent …amnesty, Farhad_Meysami was included in this amnesty and was released from prison hours ago,” the judiciary stated on Twitter.

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On Sunday, Ayatollah Khamenei issued an amnesty masking a lot of prisoners together with some arrested in latest anti-government protests, after a lethal state crackdown helped quell the nationwide unrest. The order coincided with occasions marking the anniversary of Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution.

Iran has been rocked by nationwide unrest following the dying of Iranian Kurdish lady Mahsa Amini on Sept. 16 in police custody, one of many strongest challenges to the Islamic Republic because the 1979 revolution.

Morality police arrested Amini for flouting the hijab coverage, which requires girls to decorate modestly and put on headscarfs. Women have performed a outstanding position within the protests, with many waving or burning their headscarfs.

Rights teams say greater than 500 protesters have been killed and almost 20,000 arrested. At least 4 individuals have been hanged, in keeping with the judiciary.

ALSO READ | Iran reviewing decades-old necessary hijab regulation amid protests

Images confirmed Meysami curled up on what seems to be like a hospital mattress, and one other standing, his ribs protruding.

“Shocking images of Dr. Farhad Meysami, a brave advocate for women’s rights who has been on hunger strike in prison,” tweeted Robert Malley, Washington’s special envoy for Iran.

Amnesty International said: “These photographs (of Meysami) are a stunning reminder of the Iranian authorities’ contempt for human rights.”

In a letter, Meysami had made three calls for: an finish to executions, the discharge of political-civil prisoners and an finish to “forced-hijab harassment”.

Published On:

Feb 11, 2023