The Hengaw Human Rights Organization reported that Iranian security forces arrested Taekwondo player and gymnastics coach Hania Shariati Roudabashti in Tehran, after publishing clips showing her performing street movements while wearing clothing that does not comply with the rules imposed on women in public places.
The organization stated that members of the intelligence service in Tehran carried out the arrest on Sunday evening, and transferred the sportswoman to an unknown destination. It quoted an informed source as saying that the reason for her arrest was related to her “failure to adhere to dress standards while executing performance movements.”
The report indicated that Shariati was able to make one phone call to her family after her arrest, during which she expressed her concern about her situation and asked for help, before contact with her was cut off since then.
The detained Iranian player (sites)
“Hingaw” also pointed out that the Iranian authorities took control of Shariati’s accounts on social networking sites, and closed her page on “Instagram”, which was followed by about 160,000 people, and placed on it the slogan “Cyberspace Police – Police Fata.”
Shariati’s arrest comes in light of an intensified campaign by the Iranian authorities to implement compulsory hijab and increase restrictions imposed on women in the public and digital spaces.
