A renowned Iranian poet has been released on bail after being arrested upon her return to Tehran on Friday. Hila Sedighi was convicted in absentia on charges related to her cultural activities, according to Reuters. She lives in the United Arab Emirates with her husband, as was reportedly surprised by her arrest. She has launched an appeal, however there has been no comment from Iranian officials on the case.
Numerous journalists and artists have been arrested in a recent push by authorities to stop Western influences in the Islamic republic. The Iran nuclear deal, signed by world powers in July, caused conservatives in the country to express fears that there may be a Western corruption of Iran’s Islamic values.
In 2009, Sedighi supported a reformist candidate in the presidential election. One of her poems was used in the campaign of Mirhossein Mousavi, who is currently under house arrest.
During protests following the election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Sedighi recited some of her poetry. After being interrogated a number of times by intelligence services, she was sentenced to four months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for five years.
In 2012, she was awarded the Hellman/Hammett prize for free expression by Human Rights Watch. A fellow winner from Iran was arrested last year.
Next month, there will be a parliamentary election as well as the election of an assembly which will determine who will be the Supreme Leader’s successor. Reuters reports that dozens of activists and journalists have been in the run up to these elections.
