SOAS student detained in Iran
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SOAS Iranian Society
Jan 22, 2012, 4:04:41 PM1/22/12
to soas-irani...@googlegroups.com
Dear all,
It has come to our attention that one of our SOAS alumni, Parastoo Dokouhaki, was arrested in Tehran last week on January 15th after security agents raided her home and confiscated a number of her possessions, including her computer and written works. There has been an unexplained spate of detentions in Iran recently of journalists, film-makers, photographers and even bloggers. Parastoo has been charged with "acting against national security" and "propaganda against the regime" - loosely defined charges that are repeatedly used in a range of cases. She is currently being detained in the notorious Evin prison. Parastoo was one of among at least 3 other journalists to have been taken into custody in Iran last week in separate incidents.
Parastoo Dokouhaki was studying here at SOAS back in 2007-08 and graduated with a Master's degree in Media Studies, after which she returned home to Iran. Several years ago she was among the first women in Iran to start her own blog, 'Zan Nevesht', a blog focused on her own personal issues and those of women in Iranian society. Parastoo had also previously worked for a number of newspapers and had written for the monthly magazine, 'Zanan' (Women), which had its publication license revoked by the Islamic Republic's Press Supervisory Board in 2008 and was subsequently shut-down. The magazine had been in publication for 16 years prior to its closure.
Parastoo had not been involved in any form of activism for some time and neither had she been involved in journalism of late. Rather, she has reportedly been working on translations and research over the past 2 years. Her sudden arrest and detention has therefore come as a shock to her family, friends and former teachers and colleagues here at SOAS. Parastoo Dokouhaki had reportedly lost her father a few months ago and has a chronic illness for which she must use medication under the supervision of her physician.
As a SOAS alumni, we express our solidarity with Parastoo Dokouhaki and add our serious concern for her well-being and safety. We will provide further information about her condition and situation as we receive it to the wider SOAS student body.
Another former SOAS student, Iranian-Canadian blogger Hossein "Hoder" Derakshan, disappeared into Iranian custody when he traveled to the country in the latter half of 2008. He was held without charge for a considerable time and later put on trial in March 2010. In September of that year, Hossein was sentenced to 19 and a half years in prison. Hossein had been studying a Master's degree at SOAS in 2007-08. His case is unrelated to that of Parastoo Dokouhaki.
In closing, the SOAS Students' Union and student body at large are urged to express their solidarity with Parastoo Dokouhaki, one of our alumni here at SOAS, and the SOAS Iranian Society add its voice to those that have called for her immediate release.
Aki Elborzi
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