Taekwondo athlete Hanieh Shariati Roudposhti arrested for performing without compulsory hijab

Hengaw – Sunday, November 9, 2025

Security forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran have arrested Hanieh Shariati Roudposhti, a taekwondo athlete and gymnastics coach residing in Tehran, and taken her to an undisclosed location. She was detained after performing demonstrations in public without wearing the compulsory hijab.

According to information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Shariati Roudposhti was detained in Tehran by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence on the evening of Sunday, November 9, 2025.

A source close to her family reported that the arrest was justified as “failing to observe public dress codes during a public performance.” The source added that after her arrest, Shariati Roudposhti made a brief phone call to her family, expressed concern about her situation, and asked for help. Since then, her family has received no information about her whereabouts or condition.

Following the arrest, her social media accounts were taken over by Iranian security agencies. Her Instagram page, which had nearly 160,000 followers, has been blocked and now displays the emblem of Iran’s Cyber Police (FATA).