Concordia professors rejoice at release of Homa Hoodfar from Evin prison

CTV Montreal: Homa Hoodfar is free The Concordia University professor was imprisoned in February.

Concordia University professors expressed relief and joy Monday at the release of their colleague Homa Hoodfar from an Iranian jail.

At a news conference, the professors confirmed that retired Canadian-Iranian anthropology professor Hoodfar, 65, was freed from Tehran’s Evin prison.

The professor, who was born in Iran but has lived in Montreal for 30 years, had been held there since June on what her friends and family called trumped-up charges, including "dabbling in feminism" and security matters.

“She’s free and she’s out of Iran, and she will get medical care and medication. Today is a day to rejoice," said Marguerite Mendell, a professor of the School of Community and Public Affairs at Concordia.

photo: Public Authority for Radio and TV of Oman

Mendell confirmed that Hoodfar is in Oman, and may go to London before returning home to Canada.

Mendell said Global Affairs reported she is very frail, looks extremely thin and very worn.

Hoodfar’s niece Amanda Ghahremani, who has fought tirelessly to help free her aunt, was flown in to Muscat to meet her aunt.

photo: Public Authority for Radio and TV of Oman

Hoodfar’s family expressed concern last month about Hoodfar’s health, saying they had fears she wasn’t receiving her medicine regularly. They described her health as poor, saying she is "very disoriented, severely weakened" and suffering from chronic tension headaches.

Hoodfar suffers from myasthenia gravis, a rare neurological condition causing weakness and rapid muscle fatigue. The illness requires specialized care.

Her psychological condition is also a concern, said sociology professor Marc Lafrance.

“We have no idea what awaits us in terms of her psychological condition. We can only assume that her last 100 days have been extraordinarily difficult for her,” said Lafrance, adding that her release was symbolic in terms of academic freedoms.

“People care about academic freedom. It’s something that has to be safeguarded at all costs,” he said.

Nearly 5,000 academics worldwide signed a petition this summer in support of the retired anthropology professor.

photo: Public Authority for Radio and TV of Oman

The Office of the Canadian Prime Minister also celebrated Hoodfar’s release.

“Canadians are relieved that Dr. Hoodfar has been released from jail and will soon be reunited with her family, friends and colleagues,” Justin Trudeau’s office wrote in a statement.

Government of Canada officials provided consular assistance to her family and said they will continue to do so until Hoodfar arrives back in Canada.

Hoodfar's supporters had pressed diplomats to discuss her case during the recent United Nations General Assembly in New York. Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion met with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif on the sidelines of the meeting last Wednesday.

“In the absence of diplomatic representation of its own in Iran, Canada worked closely with others who were instrumental in helping secure Dr. Hoodfar’s release – most notably Oman, Italy and Switzerland. I would like to extend our sincerest appreciation for their support,” the statement read.

Amnesty International Canada had also called for her release, saying Hoodfar was "a prisoner of conscience."

Iran's state-run news agency IRNA first released the news, filing a brief story Monday, saying Hoodfar was freed on humanitarian grounds.

Similar reports were filed by other Iranian media at the same time. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Bahram Qassemi announced her release, stating, "Mrs. Homa Hoodfar, the retired professor of Canada universities, who had been arrested in Iran has been freed for humanitarian reasons, including illness, and she returned to Canada through Oman."

Hoodfar was interviewed in Oman following her release.

With reports from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press