[Fdu] Amnesty International calls for immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Homa Hoodfar, Professor of Anthropology, Concordia U, Montreal

[Cynthia Wright]

  Amnesty International calls for immediate and unconditional release of
  Dr. Homa Hoodfar

NEWS <http://www.amnesty.ca/category/media-types/news>
JUNE 09, 2016

http://www.amnesty.ca/news/amnesty-international-calls-immediate-and-unconditional-release-dr-homa-hoodfar

Canadian-Iranian citizen Dr. Homa Hoodfar, who was arrested in Iran on 
June 6 in relation to her peaceful professional work, must be 
immediately and unconditionally released.  Amnesty International 
considers her to be a prisoner of conscience.   The organization calls 
on the Government of Canada to take all possible diplomatic measures to 
ensure her immediate release and safe return to Canada.

“The arrest of respected and accomplished scholar, Dr. Homa Hoodfar, is 
the latest attempt by the Iranian authorities at targeting individuals, 
including academics, for the peaceful exercise of their rights to 
freedom of expression and association.” said Alex Neve, Secretary 
General of Amnesty International Canada.  “It is deeply troubling that 
someone whose research focuses on addressing women’s inequality can find 
herself arbitrarily arrested and held, possibly in solitary confinement, 
without access to a lawyer and her family. At a time when Canada has 
signalled its intention to restore relations with the Iranian 
government, it is essential that the Canadian government bring all 
possible pressure to bear and exhaust all possible avenues to gain her 
freedom.”

Dr. Homa Hoodfar, who also holds Irish citizenship, is a professor of 
anthropology at Concordia University in Montreal. Her academic work 
includes research related to development, family law, refugees, women 
and electoral politics and human rights. She was in Iran visiting her 
family and conducting historical and ethnographic research on women's 
participation in elections since 1906. She was taken from her home by 
the Revolutionary Guards on March 10 for questioning, shortly before she 
had planned to leave the country. The authorities also searched her home 
and seized her personal belongings including her passport, phone, and 
computer.  She was subsequently released on bail but was banned from 
leaving the country.

While out on bail, Dr. Homa Hoodfar was repeatedly summoned and 
subjected to interrogations by officials from the Revolutionary Guards 
without a lawyer present. Amnesty International understands that Dr. 
Homa Hoodfar may be facing national security related charges but has not 
yet been formally charged.  She is currently held in Tehran’s Evin 
Prison. Amnesty International is deeply concerned for her health and 
safety as she has a neurological condition for which she requires 
specialized medical care that she may not receive in prison.



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