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Prisoners

'Abducted' Sepideh Rashnu Reportedly Allowed Visit by Lawyer

August 24, 2022
OstanWire
1 min read
Sepideh Rashnu was held for two weeks before a video of her "confessing" on camera was aired by the state broadcaster
Sepideh Rashnu was held for two weeks before a video of her "confessing" on camera was aired by the state broadcaster

Sepideh Rashnu, a young woman forcibly disappeared in mid-July over non-compliance with mandatory hijab, has reportedly been permitted a visit from her lawyer in prison.

The lawyer Naim Nizami received state approval to represent Rashnu over the weekend. On Tuesday, a newly-created Twitter account purporting to belong to her brother Saman Rashnu said Nizami had been allowed to speak to her in Evin Prison.

“Sepideh's condition is favorable,” he wrote, “and we are grateful to our concerned countrymen.”

Rashnu, a Lorestan-born artist and editor, was arrested on July 16 shortly after she was filmed arguing about hijab with a conservative woman on a Tehran bus.

The 28-year-old was held incommunicado for two weeks. Then, a video of her swathed in a traditional veil and giving a forced confession was aired by the IRIB.

Between then and now, Sepideh’s location and status have been unknown. To the alarm of friends and Iranian human rights advocates, it was also reported that she had been admitted to hospital with possible internal bleeding before the clip for state TV was recorded.

The Islamic Republic accuses Rashnu of “encouraging corruption and prostitution”, “propaganda against the regime” and sending material to women’s rights activist Masih Alinejad.

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