French police detain, forcibly take off Iranian lecturer’s hijab after arbitrary arrest

French police detain, forcibly take off Iranian lecturer’s hijab after arbitrary arrest
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Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian university lecturer, has been arbitrarily detained in France for approximately six months on charges of “apologie du terrorisme” (public defense of terrorism) and related offenses, Press TV reported. According to her sister, Zahra Esfandiari, French police arrested Mahdieh at her home in Lyon on February 28, 2025, and reportedly removed her hijab.

Mahdieh, a 39-year-old linguist and professor at Lyon’s Lumière University, was confirmed by French judicial authorities to be held at Freshness Prison in the suburbs of Paris in April 2025. The charges against her stem from posts she shared on a Telegram channel, which included updates and commentary, particularly concerning the Gaza Strip. The charges also include “online provocation of terrorism, insults based on origin or religion, and refusal to provide access codes to her social media accounts.”

Iranian officials, including Judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir and Deputy Foreign Minister Vahid Jalalzadeh, have condemned the detention. They have characterized her imprisonment as an “illegal” and “inhumane act” that they say violates freedom of expression. The report notes that Esfandiari is being held in solitary confinement and is not being permitted to maintain her non-meat diet.