October 25, 2024
Faezeh Hashemi, daughter of the late President AliAkbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani, has been released from prison after serving two years. Actually, Faezeh said she was “kicked out” of prison against her wishes. Faezeh was initially sentenced to five years in prison following her arrest early in the Woman, Life, Freedom protests that began in September 2022.
Her lawyer, MohammadHossein Aghassi, confirmed that her release was granted September 18 after a ruling by an appeals court. “Previously, there was opposition to Ms. Faezeh HashemiRafsanjani’s conditional release, but today we were informed of the appeals court’s decision, which approved her conditional release, and she was released from prison this evening,” he said.
She was convicted on charges of “propaganda against the Islamic Republic” and “disturbing public order by participating in illegal gatherings.” She told the Canada-based IranWire she had objected to being released. She cited two reasons. She said, “In my view, staying in prison is not a badge of honor.
But getting out isn’t right either…. Another reason I didn’t want to leave was the situation of my fellow inmates who supported me and protested the prison conditions. I felt it would be wrong to abandon them in that environment. But it didn’t turn out that way.
Just like in 2012, when they forced me out of prison, the same thing happened this time. It seems my fate is that every time I go to prison, they eventually have to force me out.” She explained that Warden Hedayat Farzadi had told her to come to his office after she refused to accept release.
She said she would talk to him on the phone. But, she explained, “I was told Farzadi doesn’t discuss things on the phone and that I should come in person. I refused again, saying, ‘You’re trying to release me.’ He [apparently an aide to the warden] denied it, saying, ‘No, we promise you’ll return to prison.’ I asked, ‘Am I supposed to trust your word?’ They assured me, so I went. “When I arrived, Mr. Farzadi handed me a letter stating that my parole had been approved.
I told him, ‘I never made such a request.’ He said, ‘Regardless, it’s been approved.’ He read the letter, explaining that parole meant I’d be released but under conditions if I violated any terms, I’d return to prison with double the punishment or whatever the judge ruled. “I told him, ‘No, I didn’t ask for freedom, and I don’t accept this.’
He responded, ‘It’s no longer in your hands. Once the release order is issued, we’ll be punished if we keep you even a minute longer. We can’t let you go back inside.’ “I argued that this wasn’t what we’d agreed to and that they’d deceived me, but they didn’t budge. In the end, they essentially kicked me out of the prison. They wouldn’t let me go back to my cell; instead, the other inmates gathered my belongings and sent them out to me.”
