Roshanak Molaei Alishah, opponent of mandatory Hijab, arrested by security forces

Hengaw: Monday, November 11, 2024  

 Roshanak Molaei Alishah, a Turkish woman from Tabriz residing in Tehran, and a known opponent of mandatory hijab was recently detained again by security forces, and her fate remains unknown. She was previously arrested and imprisoned during the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement  

 According to a report received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, 25-year-old Roshanak Molaei Alishah has come under scrutiny by security forces due to social media posts where she appears without the mandatory hijab. In one video, Roshanak is shown arguing with a government official over the issue of optional hijab, later sharing CCTV footage of the confrontation online. Following the release of this content, her account on X was swiftly deactivated.  

 Informed sources report that on Saturday, November 2, Roshanak Molaei Alishah was summoned and interrogated by the cyber police regarding her social media posts. She was subsequently arrested on Sunday, November 3. As of now, no information regarding her whereabouts or condition has been disclosed, and her family’s attempts to inquire about her case have been unsuccessful.  

 Roshanak Molaei Alishah was previously arrested during the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement in Tehran on September 27, 2022, following a violent encounter. Initially held in Evin Prison, she was subsequently transferred to Qarchak Varamin Prison. In December of that year, the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced her to six years and six months on charges of “assembly and collusion.” After nearly five months in detention, she was granted amnesty and released from Qarchak Varamin Prison on February 15, 2023.  

 Over the past two years, Roshanak Molaei Alishah has been summoned and interrogated multiple times by security agencies due to the content of her social media posts.