Student Activist Appeals For Support Amidst Fears Of Her Detention

Bita Shafiei, a resident of Shahinshahr in central Iran, who was arrested during protests against chemical attacks on schools, has appealed to the public for support.

Shafiei, a courageous student, who was apprehended during demonstrations against chemical attacks on schools, issued a heartfelt plea urging the public to stand in solidarity with her.

In a circulated video on social media, Shafiei said that the government thrives on instilling fear and warned that without public support, the regime will continue to use to extreme measures against protestors.

In her recorded message, Shafiei revealed that she had endured torture including the fracturing of her fingers, during her trial.

Shafiei is the daughter of Maryam Abbasi Nikoo, a political prisoner held at Evin Prison in Esfahan, detained on charges related to religious insults.

On June 26th, security agents forcefully entered Bita's parental residence with the intent to arrest her. Upon discovering her absence, they subjected her father to physical assault and detained her mother, Maryam Abbasi Nikoo after which, according to sources, the authorities brought charges of religious insults against her mother.

As the September 16 anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death at the hands of the police approaches, the regime has escalated its suppression of activists, students, educators, and writers. Families of protesters who lost their lives during the uprising, as well as civil and human rights activists and students, have become primary targets of the regime's repressive efforts, seeking to silence prominent voices.