TEHRAN (AFP) – Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani, the daughter of former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, has been released from Tehran's Evin prison after serving two years for her role in protests over women's rights.
Faezeh was sentenced to five years in prison following her arrest during the 2022 protests.
Her release followed a ruling by an appeals court, as confirmed by her lawyer, Mohammad Hossein Aghassi.
Faezeh was arrested in September 2022 during nationwide protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini.
Mahsa's passing while in police custody for allegedly violating Iran's strict dress code ignited widespread demonstrations demanding change.
The protests, which began on September 16, 2022, have seen significant participation from women and schoolchildren, advocating not only for women's rights but also for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic.
An advocate for women's rights, Faezeh served as a parliament representative for Tehran from 1996 to 2000.
She has been vocal about the need to relax strict dress codes and has expressed opposition to the compulsory hijab, despite wearing a chadar herself.
Faezeh has a long history of activism, having previously been arrested during the 2009 unrest that followed the disputed election of then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
She served as a parliament representative from 1996 to 2000 and founded the women’s newspaper Zan in 1998. Known for her critical stance against the government, she has utilized platforms like Clubhouse to reach large audiences, voicing opposition to the regime's policies.
Her father, a reformist president from 1989 to 1997, held various influential positions until his passing in 2017. Faezeh has been vocal about the negative impact of US sanctions on ordinary Iranians, attributing them to the "incorrect" policies of the Iranian authorities.
Her activism drew international attention, with the US Foreign Office recently introducing her as "Faezeh, defendant of women's rights all over Iran." This characterisation led to heated debates among Iranian activists.