An Iranian journalist who had been released on bail in mid-August was arrested again by authorities on Wednesday for not wearing the veil in public, local media reported.
Since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, the wearing of the veil has been compulsory for women, who must hide their hair in public places. However, more and more women have been appearing bareheaded in the big cities for a year.
Nazila Maroufian was arrested for not wearing a veil in a public place and “posting her photos on social media”, the Tasnim news agency reported.
The journalist had already been arrested several times after having interviewed in October 2022 Amjad Amini, the father of Mahsa Amini. The death in custody in September 2022 of this young woman arrested by the morality police who accused her of having violated the dress code imposed on women, sparked demonstrations which lasted several months.
In the interview, Amjad Amini accused the authorities of lying about the circumstances of his daughter’s death, saying she died of a medical condition. Family and activists say she was hit in the head while in police custody. Tehran had denied such allegations.
Nazila Maroufian was arrested for the first time in November 2022 and then released, and indicated in January that she had been sentenced to two years in prison suspended for five years for “propaganda against the system” and “spreading false news”.
When she was released from prison on August 13, following another arrest, she posted a photo of herself without a headscarf on social networks.
Based in Tehran, Nazila Maroufian is from Saqez, Amini’s hometown, in the province of Kurdistan (west).
On Wednesday, local media also reported on the opening the day before of the trial of Mahsa Amini’s lawyer, Me Saleh Nikbakht, for “propaganda against the Islamic Republic” for having spoken with the media.
08/30/2023 18:06:11 – Tehran (AFP) – © 2023 AFP