Woman who confronted harasser makes court appearance from prison

An Iranian activist who was detained after she confronted a motorcyclist who grabbed her from behind appeared from prison in a court hearing via video link, according to civil society group the Iranian Women Association.

The activist, Roshanak Molaei, was detained almost three weeks ago after she thwarted a harasser in a military uniform on a moped while she walked down a north Tehran street, putting the man in a headlock and summoning a crowd of bystanders.

Authorities have not clarified the grounds for her detention or any charges she faces.

CCTV footage of the incident went viral on social media, adding to the already raging debate in Iran over gender rights and perceived official misogyny under the ruling Islamic theocracy.

Molaei had posted the video on her X account, captioning it: "Being a woman in Iran."

Tehran police confirmed the encounter and said the motorcyclist was referred to judicial authorities for “harassment of women” without saying if the man had been arrested or charged.

The apparent disparity between the treatment of Molaei and his harasser as well as Molaei’s continued detention has drawn criticism from women’s rights advocates, who question why the victim of harassment is being prosecuted.

Molaei was arrested in November 2022 during widespread women's rights protests known as the Woman Life Freedom movement. She was sentenced to five years in prison for acting against national security, insulting Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei and appearing in public without the mandatory hijab.