The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has called for urgent action by the Minister for Foreign Affairs regarding detention in solitary confinement in Iran of an Irish citizen, Prof. Homa Hoodfar, for more than three months.
Mike Jennings, General Secretary of IFUT said that the treatment of Prof Hoodfar is increasingly draconian. “In the past week her lawyer was dismissed and another appointed without her consent.”
Prof Hoodfar is 65 years old, suffers from a serious neurological condition, myasthenia gravis, and is being denied medical access. She was detained on June 6th last and accused of ‘dabbling in feminism’, after completing research on behalf of Concordia University in Canada, where she currently works, Mike Jennings said
“Prof Hoodfar is a renowned anthropologist, who has decades of experience working in culture and gender politics. She visited Iran to meet family and undertake research on women’s participation in politics there. As a ‘security prisoner’ she is being denied access to her doctor and family.
“The Irish Federation of University Teachers has written to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, urging Ireland to seek the early release of Professor Hoodfar on humanitarian grounds. We are willing to provide the Minister with any further information or facilitate a meeting between the Minister and /or his officials with Prof Hoodfar’s relatives in Ireland,” he said.
ENDS
For further information on this media release please contact:
John Gallagher
John Gallagher Consulting
Tel. 087 9369888
