Sedigheh Vasmaghi: An Imprisoned Female Islamic Jurist Defying Iran’s Supreme Leader for Women’s Rights
The health of Sedigheh Vasmaghi, an Iranian female Islamic jurist who stopped wearing the headscarf in public to support ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’, has deteriorated significantly in prison. She faces charges of ‘propaganda against the State’ and also charges for being in public without wearing the hijab. Before her arrest, she directly challenged Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, questioning his interpretations of hijab and women’s rights in Islamic Shiite jurisprudence.
Authorities have denied her visitation rights and medical attention because she continues to refuse to wear the hijab. Despite suffering from Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and partial vision loss, she has not received proper monitoring or timely medical care, resulting in complete vision loss, as reported by her husband on April 25, 2024. Additionally, she has experienced heart issues while in prison.
Sedigheh Vasmaghi, an Islamic intellectual, jurist, scholar, and politician, has garnered attention for her involvement in the reform movement in Iran. However, her contributions extend beyond political reformism; she has also made an impact as a religious reformist. In a display of courage and conviction, Vasmaghi wrote a letter to Ali Khamenei in 2023, following the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ movement, challenging the long-held belief of Shiite jurists such as Khamenei, that the hijab is an ‘obligatory practice’ for Muslim women.
In her letter to Khamenei dated April 11, 2023, Vasmaghi, an expert on jurisprudence, drew compelling evidence from the Quran to argue that the hijab is not a religious requirement. She boldly asserted that Khamenei, as the supreme leader of Iran, bears responsibility for the dangers faced by Iranian women due to oppressive and discriminatory practices perpetuated in the name of religion. Her courage and conviction serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of challenging the status quo and advocating for change, even in the face of adversity.
Several months after her letter to Khamenei, Sedigheh Vasmaghi once again demonstrated her commitment to advocating for women’s rights. In a video posted on her Instagram account, Vasmaghi urged her followers not to remain silent in the face of injustice, particularly in the cases of young women like Jina Mahsa Amini and Armita Geravand, who were killed because of the hijab and the oppressive policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran and its morality policing.
With a clear and resolute voice, Vasmaghi demanded that the dictatorial regime of Iran be held accountable for the egregious crimes committed against women, including the enforcement of compulsory hijab rules used to control and suppress women. She emphasized women’s fundamental right to fight against these unjust and discriminatory practices, and stressed that all members of society must stand in solidarity with the women of Iran.
On October 12, 2023, following the 2022–2023 Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran, Sedigheh Vasmaghi made a bold statement: she publicly removed her hijab in video she published, symbolizing her support for the movement and her defiance against the oppressive regime. Her support for this movement landed her in prison for the third time and she was sent to Evin prison on March 16, 2024.
Currently serving a prison sentence in Evin prison, Vasmaghi remains a vocal advocate for gender equality and justice. In a poignant letter shared on March 29, 2024, through the social media accounts of imprisoned Iranian human rights activist and Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi, Vasmaghi writes about the hardships of women prisoners in Iran. She sheds light on the unjust treatment of women activists and the challenges she faces as a prominent figure in the fight for women’s rights.
In this heartfelt letter, Vasmaghi condemns the arbitrary and discriminatory politics imposed on women and women’s rights defenders, highlighting the erosion of women’s dignity under the current regime. She speaks out against systemic injustices, calling for a more inclusive society where women are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve:
“I pen these words from the confines of Evin prison, where the simple act of unveiling has become a charge against me. As a consequence, I bear the weight of imprisonment, unable to visit my family due to my choice to forgo the hijab in prison. The prison authorities dictate that the privilege of familial visits hinges on compliance with hijab regulations.”
The authorities of Evin prison have denied Vasmaghi visitation rights, imposing a condition that restricts family visits to instances where the prisoner accepts the hijab.Vasmaghi has refused this condition. This blatant disregard for fundamental human rights highlights the oppressive nature of the regime and its extreme measures to suppress dissent and exert control over women’s bodies and choices.
Sedigheh Vasmaghi’s stance against the compulsory hijab law in Iran has sparked debate and gained the attention of religious women, highlighting that the ongoing struggle for women’s rights and freedom in the country extends to them as well. As a female jurist and expert in jurisprudence challenging the draconian hijab laws, she resonates with many Muslim Iranian women. Her vocal opposition to these laws has drawn attention to the oppressive nature of these regulations and their impact on all women’s lives.
Vasmaghi’s unwavering resistance against the hijab law, despite facing imprisonment, exemplifies a broader shift in Iran’s political landscape. As a former reformist, turned advocate for women’s rights, her case underscores the complexities within Iranian politics, where women like Vasmaghi are pushing back against oppressive rules while facing significant risks and repercussions.
Moreover, Vasmaghi’s defiance challenges traditional jurists’ interpretations of religious texts, particularly regarding the Quran’s stance on hijab. By asserting that there is no explicit mandate for hijab in the Quran, she has not only defied the regime’s interpretation but has also paved the way for a new discourse within religious intellectualism in Iran. Her rejection of the hijab as a Quranic requirement marks a significant departure from conventional beliefs and signals a shift towards a new understanding of women’s rights within the religious framework.
Sedigheh Vasmaghi’s advocacy for women’s rights, defiance against oppressive laws, and challenge to traditional Quranic interpretations contribute to a growing momentum for change and highlight the evolving landscape of political and religious discourse in the country.
