Indian feminists issue statement of solidarity with the imprisoned Canadian-Iranian professor. Hoodfar was arrested by Iranian intelligence officers last week
We, the undersigned, are in solidarity with Dr. Homa Hoodfar, a Canadian anthropologist of Iranian origin who has been imprisoned by the Iranian authorities on June 6, 2016. Dr. Hoodfar is a respected academic scholar and researcher on women and family in the Middle East and the Muslim world. She travelled to Iran in March 2016 to visit family and for research on women’s participation in public life.
Prior to her arrest, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard interrogated Ms. Hoodfar repeatedly without the presence of a lawyer, searched and seized her belongings including passport, phone and laptop. Ms. Hoodfar fully cooperated with the process and has been very respectful of the domestic Iranian judicial system. Since her arrest however, her family, colleagues and supporters in Iran were left with no choice but to go public with the news of the arrest.
Iranian authorities have given no reason for the arrest and the charges under which she has been held. She has not been granted access to her family or legal counsel. Dr. Hoodfar, aged 65, is not in good health and has already suffered from a mild stroke in 2015. Her family is concerned about her health and fears she may not have access to the specialized care that she requires.
We urge the Iranian government to:
Provide Dr Hoodfar immediate access to her family and lawyer.
Ensure Dr Hoodfar has the medicines she requires for her neurological illness, her condition is monitored and the report shared with her family.
Release Dr Hoodfar and return her passport and other essential documents so she can travel back to Canada to continue her treatment there and resume her academic work.