Ghoncheh Ghavami
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Ghoncheh Ghavami (born 1989) also spelled as Goncheh Ghavami (Persian: غنچه قوامی) is a British-Iranian law graduate (SOAS, University of London) who is being held in solitary confinement in Evin Prison for protesting for equal access to sporting events in Iran. In June 20, she was arrested for the first time after she attempted to attend a mens-only volleyball match in Azadi stadium of Tehran. Although she was released in the same day, she was re-arrested days later when she returned to collect her belongings and then taken to Evin prison. Her arrest raised international protests, but Iranian officials denies the link between her arrest and volleyball match. She has been charged with "propaganda against the regime”, according to Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejeie, the second-ranking member of Iran's judiciary. Womans are prohibited from attending male-only sport matches in Iran.
Life
Ghavami was born in about 1989 and has an elder brother. She lived in Shepherd's Bush in London in 2014. She has dual British and Iranian nationality. She studied law and graduated from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. She worked for a charity in Iran teaching children to read and write.[1]
Arrest and detention
On 20 June 2014 Ghavami was detained while trying to enter a Volleyball World League match (Iran vs Italy) at Azadi Stadium in Tehran. She and and other women’s rights campaigners were protesting outside the stadium for equal access to sporting events.[2] It is illegal for women to interact with male spectators at sports facilities. This law was allegedly introduced to protect female spectators from the lewd behaviour of other spectators. The arrested campaigners broke this law and in addition, she and the other campaigners wore white headscarves; the law requires dark coloured hijabs.[3]
Ghavami was arrested at the security gate to the stadium and released on bail. When she returned a week later to collect her belongings she was re-arrested and taken to Evin Prison where she is currently being held in solitary confinement. She began a hunger strike on 1 October 2014 after being held in solitary detention for 100 days.[4]
We wanted to go to the stadium together. We wanted to go sit on those chairs to scream and cheer for our national team.
— Shiva Nazar Ahari, one of the women protesting alongside Ghavami at the game.
Iran’s judiciary has denied the charges against Ghavami are related to the stadium visit, stating she has been charged with "propaganda against the regime”.
Miss Ghavami’s arrest and imprisonment has nothing to do with the issue of sports and women’s participations in stadiums, and is a national security matter.
— Ghulam Hussein Mohseni Ejeyie, spokesman for the Iranian judiciary.[3]
Responses
In an open letter to President Hassan Rouhani, 300 Iranian human and civil rights activists highlighted the conditions Ghavami was being held under.[3]
The foreign secretary of the United Kingdom Philip Hammond raised her case with Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iranian Minister for Foreign Affairs at talks at the United Nations in New York. However, Iran does not recognise her dual nationality as a British citizen.[3]
See also
- Offside (2006 Iranian film)
References
- ^ Rush, James (6 October 2014). "Ghoncheh Ghavami: British-Iranian woman detained in Tehran for watching men's volleyball match goes on hunger strike". The Independant. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- ^ "Free Ghoncheh: jailed for wanting to watch volleyball". Amnesty International. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- ^ a b c d "British-Iranian woman goes on hunger strike after arrest for attending men's volleyball match". Telegraph. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
- ^ "Fears grow for detained British-Iranian woman on hunger strike". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 October 2014.