Ten Years Jail For Iranians Sending Videos To Women’s Rights Activist

After dozens of Iranian women unveiled in public and sent their videos to anti-hijab activist Masih Alinejad in New York, Iran says sending her footage can lead to up to 10 years in jail. 

Ali Khan-Mohammadi, the spokesperson of Iran’s Headquarters For Enjoining Right And Forbidding Evil, tasked with promoting the Islamic Republic’s interpretation of Islamic laws, said on Saturday that any cooperation and sending videos to Alinejad will be considered a violation of Article 508 of the Islamic Republic’s Penal Code, and can result in one to ten years imprisonment. 

He noted that the ban is not limited to sending photos and videos of protests against the compulsory Islamic dress code – or hijab, adding that any material that is deemed against the Islamic Republic will be punishable. According to Article 508, any collaboration with “enemies and hostile media networks” is a serious violation and lead to imprisonment.

Accusing Alinejad of being a CIA and UK foreign intelligence service MI6 agnet, Khan-Mohammadi said she is a “sworn enemy of the nation” who seeks to undermine the territorial integrity of the country and create division and polarization among the people. 

Iran’s security organs have also started arresting women who participated in a nationwide civil disobedience campaign July 12 against hijab. 

Following a call by women’s rights activists – including Alinejad -- for civil disobedience with the hashtag of ‘No2Hijab’ social media exploded with dozens of videos and photos of women unveiling in public.