Iranian women activists released; others detained

Two Iranian women, Mahboubeh Hosseinzadeh and Nahid Keshavarz, arrested April 2 for collecting signatures for a petition to change Iran’s discriminatory laws toward women, were released from prison Sunday, according to an alert from the Women’s Learning Partnership for Rights, Development and Peace on Tuesday.

Within the past week though, 11 additional activists from the campaign, known as “One Million Signatures Campaign,” were detained and charged with “violating national security,” “publicity against the Islamic Republic,” and “participating in an unauthorized demonstration,” the article said.

Additionally, Iranian police have announced that beginning this Saturday, women will be arrested if their attire violates Islamic law. According to the article violations would include “wearing short coats, tight outer garments, or inadequate headscarves.” In order to be released, “They will have to give a written engagement not to repeat the offense and can then leave when their family brings the appropriate clothing,” Tehran’s chief of police said.

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