Detained Iranian journalist on temporary release

Hengameh Shahidi

Hengameh Shahidi, detained Iranian journalist and women’s rights activist, was temporarily released due to her heart complications.

Jaras website reports that Hengameh Shahidi was temporarily released in order to undergo heart surgery.

Shahidi was arrested in July of 2009 following the disputed re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. She was charged with “participation in illegal gatherings, collusion in an attempt to disturb national security, propaganda against the regime, disturbing public order and insulting the presidency.”

She went on a hunger strike last November and was released after seven days on a $90,000 bail. In May of 2010, she was given a sentence of six years in prison.

Following the recent release of Hengameh Shahidi, a number of detained women at Evin Prison issued a letter addressed to Evin and judiciary officials which was published on Daneshjoo news website.

The letter primarily observes: “these days the establishment is not satisfied with all the unjust sentences handed out to social and political activists but rather continues to harass and abuse the prisoners who are already serving out these unjust sentences.”

They observe how prisoners are deprived from their right to “adequate sanitary conditions, nutrition, family visits, interaction with others and so forth” and indicate that these rights are used as means to pressure them into spying on others and committing unethical behaviour.

The letter goes on to congratulate the release of Hengameh Shahidi noting her dire situation in prison but stresses that “the legal rights of prisoners including temporary releases, should not become a tool for pressuring prisoners to submit to lowly and unethical demands of prison officials.”

The prisoners express sympathy for the suffering of the ailing Shahidi during her imprisonment, and maintain that they understand her reason for submitting to demands of prison officials in order to secure her release. The letter goes on to conclude: “We hope that at least they remain true to their promise and do not return her to prison again.”

Hengameh Shahidi received the top prize for journalism in Tehran Media Festival for her coverage of Iraq and Afghanistan events.

She has been active in politics running for city council on reformist platforms and serving as advisor to the National Youth Organization during Mohammad Khatami’s presidency.

In the last presidential election, she served as an aide to Mehdi Karroubi who ran against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and challenged the election outcome with allegations of vote fraud.