A Concordia University professor known for her research on women in Islamic societies is being detained in Iran’s notorious Evin prison.
Homa Hoodfar was arrested on Monday after being interrogated by authorities, according to a statement published by her family.
Hoodfar, 65, is being held in Tehran's Evin prison -- the same facility where Montreal photojournalist Zahra Kazemi was detained. Kazemi died in 2003 after being raped and tortured by Iranian officials.
Hoodfar, who has citizenship with Canada, Ireland and Iran, is considered an international expert on the status of women in Islam. Her research has examined campaigns to stop the stoning of women.
She was reportedly arrested by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, a group tasked with protecting Iran’s Islamic system, and has not had access to speak with her lawyer or her family living in Iran.
Hoodfar’s niece described her aunt’s academic research as “even-handed” and said her detainment must be a “misunderstanding.”
“She works on feminist issues, but she also works on just improving the daily lives of women in different contexts, not just Iran. So I’m really confused as to what in her work is causing them to detain her,” said Hoodfar’s niece, Amanda Ghahremani, who also works as an international human rights lawyer.
“Whenever she has dealt with topics related to Iran, she has given credit to the government, the regime, when they have done things that have had positive impacts on Iranian women … She’s not someone who has worked in extremes at all. She’s very balanced in that way.”
Hoodfar’s family also says Iranian authorities have denied her access to medication for a neurological illness brought on by a stroke last year that causes chronic tension headaches.
“I’m very concerned about her health,” Ghahremani said.
Hoodfar was previously held by Iranian authorities in March and released on bail. Since then, she has been questioned several times without her lawyer and was reportedly blocked from returning to Canada.
The Canadian government is actively engaged and is working closely with allies to assist Hoodfar.
But Ghahremani says it’s been difficult to get much information from the federal government.
“Unfortunately it appears there are some limitations given we don’t have an embassy there and they don’t have an embassy here,” she said. “I just wish they would also be much more transparent about what steps and measures they’re taking.”
Consular officials as well as Stephane Dion, the minister of foreign affairs, have been in touch with Hoodfar’s family.
Hoodfar travelled to Iran to visit family members after the recent death of her husband, Ghahremani said. She also spent time doing research in Iran’s parliamentary library archives.
“Her goal was to go and visit her family and be able to reconnect there, to see the country, to travel, to have some time getting over the grief of the loss of her husband,” Ghahremani said.
Ghahremani held back tears as she described her aunt as “brilliant” and “strong.”
“She is stubborn in the best way possible. She’s got such a strong character and in these moments in the last few months, the only thing that has kept our family going is knowing she’s such a strong person,” she said.
Concordia professor Margie Mendell, a colleague and close friend of Hoodfar’s, described Hoodfar as a “pillar of strength” and “an extraordinary scholar.” She said she’s had trouble sleeping since learning of her friend’s imprisonment.
“I keep rubbing my eyes thinking this is just a bad dream and this will go away,” Mendell said.
With files from the Canadian Press and CTV Montreal Bureau Chief Genevieve Beauchemin
