Anti-Hijab Activist in Iran Summoned to Serve Sentence

Iranian authorities have summoned Sepideh Rashno, a 30-year-old writer, student, and activist against the mandatory hijab, to begin serving her sentence at Evin Prison.

Rashno's brother, Saman, revealed on social media that since March 10, his sister has received multiple notices to hand herself to prison.

The family and Rashno's lawyer had been working to delay the execution of the sentence, hoping for a favorable ruling from the Supreme Court in a second case against her.

While the Supreme Court converted the second case's prison sentence to a fine, it did not change the underlying charge. 

As a result, a suspended sentence from a previous case will now be executed.

Rashno was arrested in July 2022 after she was filmed arguing with a woman on a bus over the mandatory headscarf. 

Two weeks later, state TV aired a program showing her giving a forced confession while signs of beatings were visible even on her face.

In June last year, she announced that she had been released on bail after being summoned again by the authorities, but was "banned from leaving Tehran."

Previously, she had reported that Al-Zahra University had banned her from studying for two semesters due to the "non-observance of Islamic clothing."

All women in Iran are mandated to conceal their hair with a hijab while in public and wear loose-fitting trousers under their coats.

She was subsequently arrested for allegedly "insulting and assaulting the religious vigilante" and received a suspended sentence of three years and seven months in December 2022.

A second case was brought against Rashno in May 2023 due to her choice of attire when appearing in court.

Initially sentenced to six months in prison, a fine, and additional punishments, an appeals court reduced this to four months. She now has to serve this sentence.