Freedom for Canadian professor jailed in Iran for 'feminism'

Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi told Iranian state media on Monday that Iran had released Homa Hoodfar on humanitarian grounds, 'including her illness'.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab

26 September, 2016

Homa Hoodfar was released on 'humanitarian grounds related to her health' [Twitter]

An Iranian-Canadian academic has been released from Iranian prison on health grounds after she was imprisoned for "dabbling in feminism".

Homa Hoodfar was admitted to hospital earlier this month after she spent a number of months in solitary confinement in Tehran's Evin prison.

Hoodfar's close friend Kaveh Ehsani told The New Arab: "I can confirm that Hoodfar has been released but I can't give any details."

Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi told Iranian state media on Monday that Iran had released Hoodfar on humanitarian grounds, "including her illness".

According to her family, Hoodfar was in prison for 112 days for "dabbling in feminism and security matters".

Hoodfar has Iranian, Canadian and Irish nationalities and went to Iran earlier this year to carry out research into women's rights.

Hoodfar's health had been getting steadily worse in prison and her niece, Amanda Ghahremani, told The New Arab on 30 August that she had been been hospitalised.

Ghahremani said she was suffering from disorientation and was having problems walking and talking.