Sepideh Rashnu (; born 1994) is an Iranian writer, who is imprisoned for protesting against state-imposed
hijab
Hijab (, ) refers to head coverings worn by Women in Islam, Muslim women. Similar to the mitpaḥat/tichel or Snood (headgear), snood worn by religious married Jewish women, certain Christian head covering, headcoverings worn by some Christian w ...
rules. In July 2022, she had an altercation on a public bus with another woman over the hijab rules, and the video went viral on social media.
History
Sepideh Rashnu was arrested on 16 July 2022 after a video showing an altercation between her and Rayeheh Rabii on a bus went viral. The dispute arose because Rabii attempted to enforce the Iranian government's compulsory hijab policy, claiming Rashnu was not wearing her hijab 'properly'. Rashnu was assaulted during the altercation.
Later in July 2022, the state-run television,
IRIB
The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB; ) or Seda va Sima () for short, formerly called National Iranian Radio and Television until the Iranian revolution of 1979, is an Iranian state-controlled media corporation that holds a monopo ...
, played a video of Rashnu's confessions, which is said to have been recorded under duress. It has also been reported that a few days prior to the confession's recording she has been to a hospital in Tehran, because of internal bleeding, possibly because of torture.
She was released from
Evin Prison
Evin Prison () is a prison located in the Evin neighborhood of Tehran, Iran. The prison has been the primary site for detaining Iran's political prisoners since 1972, before and after the Iranian Revolution, in a purpose-built wing nicknamed "E ...
on 30 August 2022 by providing 8'000'000'000 IRR (approximately USD $29,000) as collateral.
Awards
In November 2023, Rashdu was included in the
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
's
100 Women list, an annual compilation that spotlights the most inspiring and influential women from around the world. This list features women who have made significant impacts in various fields, including activism, arts, sports, and science, celebrating their contributions to society and the broader global community.
See also
*
2017–2019 Iranian protests against compulsory hijab
The Girls of Enghelab protests () are protests against the Hijab by country#Iran, compulsory hijab in Iran, part of the wider Iranian Democracy Movement. The protests were inspired by Vida Movahed, an Iranian woman known as the Girl of Enghelab ...
*
Compulsory Hijab in Iran
*
Forced confession
A forced confession is a confession obtained from a suspect or a prisoner by means of torture (including enhanced interrogation techniques) or other forms of duress. Depending on the level of coercion used, a forced confession is not valid in rev ...
*
Roya Heshmati
Roya Heshmati (), (born 1990 in Sanandaj) is a Kurdish-Iranian activist known for her defiance against the mandatory hijab policy in Iran. Heshmati gained prominence for protesting by refraining from wearing the obligatory hijab in public spac ...
References
External links
Sepideh Rashnuon
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is a U.S. federal government commission created by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998. USCIRF commissioners are appointed by the president and the lead ...
's victim database.
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rashnu, Sepideh
1994 births
Living people
Iranian prisoners and detainees
Iranian women journalists