Undercovered: Professor Who Was Imprisoned for ‘Dabbling in Feminism’ Is Released

Undercovered is our daily feature bringing attention to women’s issues worldwide, which we feel deserve a larger audience.

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An Iranian-Canadian professor was released on Monday after months of imprisonment in Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Sixty-five-year-old Homa Hoodfar was arrested after traveling to Iran to visit family. Iran does not recognize dual citizenship status and authorities will make their own determination about the citizenship of dual nationals who are Iranian.

WSJ reports:

The professor was initially interrogated by Iranian authorities during a visit to see family in March, according to supporters who set up a website to urge for her release. Her belongings were seized, and she wasn’t allowed to leave the country.

In June, she was taken to Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison, which has a wing housing high-profile political detainees. Authorities accused her of “dabbling in feminism and security matters,” according to her supporters. It didn’t release further details on what the charges entailed.

Amnesty International said earlier this month that Iranian authorities told Ms. Hoodfar’s lawyer she was being accused of spreading propaganda against the Iranian system and collaborating with hostile governments.

You can read the complete report here.

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[image: Robert Eastman via shutterstock.com]

Undercovered is a daily feature from Mediaite, bringing attention to stories about women’s issues that warrant more attention. Go through the Undercovered archives here. If you have an idea or a tip, please email us at Undercovered@mediaite.com

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