Iran detains family members of women’s rights activist Masih Alinejad

Iran detains family members of women’s rights activist Masih Alinejad

Iran detains family members of women’s rights activist Masih Alinejad

Iranian intelligence officers have detained three family members of the founder of the White Wednesdays campaign. The high-profile women’s movement calls for Iranians to fight against Iran’s mandatory headscarf law.

Iran detains family members of women's rights activist Masih Alinejad
Iran detains family members of women’s rights activist Masih Alinejad

Iranian intelligence officials detained three of women’s rights activist Masih Alinejad’s family members in a move criticized by Amnesty International and the Center for Human Rights in Iran as an attempt to intimidate the US-based activist and journalist into silence.

“The agents of the Intelligence Ministry of the Islamic Republic raided my brother house and handed him out in handcuff and blindfold,” Alinejad told DW. “They arrested him in front of his two small children.

“He was not involved in any kind of political activity,” she added of her 45-year-old brother. “But right now, his crime is my activities against compulsory hijab and challenging the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Alinejad founded the White Wednesdays campaign to protest against Iran’s mandatory headscarf, known as a hijab.

“These arrests are a blatant attempt by the Iranian authorities to punish Masih Alinejad for her peaceful work defending women’s rights. Arresting the relatives of an activist in an attempt to intimidate her into silence is a despicable and cowardly move,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty’s research and advocacy director for the Middle East and North Africa.

Alinejad’s campaign gained widespread support from women and girls in Iran in recent years, alarming state officials.

Read more at: DW

Iran Briefing | News Press Focus on Human Rights Violation by IRGC, Iran Human Rights

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