Evin Prison, outside of Tehran. Photo: سبزفوتو (sabzphoto)
Dr. Homa Hoodfar, a Canadian and Iranian citizen, was arrested on June 6 and has been held in Evin Prison. She has not been able to contact her family or an attorney. Dr. Hoodfar, a Professor of Social Anthropology, was arrested in June after three months of questioning. She was in Iran visiting family and doing research on the political role of women in Iran historically. Being in isolation opens up the possibility for torture. CCS has written to the President of The Islamic Republic of Iran requesting to know her whereabouts, what she is being held for and requesting her immediate release.
July 6, 2016
The Honorable Dr. Hassan Rouhani
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Pasteur Street, Pasteur Square
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
c/o His Excellency Gholam Ali Khoshroo
The Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations
iran@un.intRe: Dr. Homa Hoodfar
Your Excellency:
We are writing on behalf of the Committee of Concerned Scientists, an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for our colleagues all over the world.
We are writing out of concern for our colleague, Dr. Homa Hoodfar. Dr. Hoodfar is a Professor of Social Anthropology who was arrested on June 6, following three months of questioning. Professor Hoodfar, who holds both Canadian and Iranian citizenship and teaches at Concordia University in Montreal, had come to Iran for personal reasons and to continue her academic research. Though it has been reported that she is detained in Branch 2A of Evin Prison, as of June 22 she still has not been allowed any outside contact, including her family or a lawyer.
Based on the nature of the questioning to which she was subjected prior to her detention and disappearance, it appears that authorities have focused on the nature of her academic research, and their concern with her being a “feminist”. We are extremely concerned that Dr. Hoodfar has been detained solely for her peaceful academic pursuits. We are also profoundly concerned that her detention (and isolation) puts her at grave risk of being tortured, and violates her basic right to communicate with legal counsel guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), a treaty to which Iran is a signatory.
Dr. Hoodfar suffers from myasthenia gravis, a long term condition that becomes worse under stress and requires medication. We urge you to assure that her health does not deteriorate, and that she receives the necessary medication and care. We urge you to ensure that Dr. Homa Hoodfar is released immediately and unconditionally, and pending her release, she is given access to family and legal counsel; that she is protected from torture; and that she is given access to adequate medical care.
We appreciate your immediate attention to this important matter and look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich,
Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander GreerCo-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
Copies to:
Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani
Head of the Judiciary
c/o Public Relations Office
Number 4, Deadend of 1 Azizi
Above Pasteur Intersection
Vali Asr Street
Tehran, Islamic Republic of IranGholam Ali Khoshroo
The Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations
Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations
622 Third Avenue
34th Floor
New York, NY 10017
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- Canadian jailed in Iran over ‘feminism and security’ issues (macleans.ca)
- Homa Hoodfar: Concordia University colleagues call for speedy release from Iranian jail (.theprovince.com)
- Montreal academics push for release of professor jailed in Iran (http://www.newsoptimist.ca)
- Concordia University professors make public plea for Homa Hoodfar’s release (cjad.com)