Astiaj Haghighi

Astiaj Haghighi is a blogger living in Tehran. She was arrested with her husband for recording and posting a video of them dancing in Azadi square in Tehran in support of the 2022 national uprising.

The national uprising of 2022 centered around the “woman, life, freedom” slogan was triggered in response to the murder of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini. The protests began sporadically in several cities and online space but in just a few days it spread to dozens of cities across Iran and the goal of the protesters changed to overthrowing the regime. <symbol-timeline></symbol-timeline>

• <coverage-outsourcing id='47420'> <reference source='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySyrm9D32Xw'> The Intelligence Ministry agents transferred Astiaj Haghighi and Amir Mohammad Ahmadi to ward 209 of Evin Prison. A few months later her father released an audio file explaining how they were arrested. According to him, 12 agents broke down their door and barged in, and started to beat them to a point that "there was blood on the floor". He said his daughter and her husband were wearing pajamas and the agents forced them to change in front of them. In response to her objection asking them to leave the room so she can get dressed, they said: > All these people see you on Instagram, doesn't matter if we see you too. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='47422'> <reference source='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4H10WnVbJk'> After a month of interrogation, she was transferred to Qarchak Prison. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='47425'> <reference source='https://www.mizan.news/4619343/%D8%AD%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D9%88%DB%8C%DA%98%D9%87-%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B1%D9%88%DB%8C-%D8%A2%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C%D8%A7%DA%98-%D8%AD%D9%82%DB%8C%D9%82%DB%8C-%D9%88-%D8%A7%D9%85/'> The judiciary's Mizan website reported that Judge Salavati at the 15th branch of the revolutionary court of Tehran sentenced Astiaj Haghighi and Amir Mohammad Ahmadi each to five years in prison on the charge of assembly and collusion to act against the national security, for releasing a video of them dancing in Azadi square. HRANA reported that they were also banned for two years from using the Internet and leaving the country. After the news of their prison sentence received global coverage, the judiciary's Mizan website claimed that they were convicted for encouraging people to riot against the state" and "promoting calls to protests" during the 2022 national uprising. A few months later Astiaj Haghighi's father said in an audio file released online that during the trial, Judge Salavati insulted his wife and daughter: > When the judge was reading the sentence, her mother objected that her daughter hasn't committed any crimes to receive such a heavy sentence, and Judge Salavati in response called her a prostitute and many other horrible words. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='47426'> <reference source='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4H10WnVbJk'> A friend of Mr. Ahmadi and Ms. Haghighi told Iran International after their arrest their families were pressured by the state not to publicize their situation. The security forces told the families that if they don't publicize their arrest, their case will go smoothly. But despite their silence about the case, the two were sentenced to prison. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='47966'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/3Srq8nb'> She was released from prison. On February 5th, 2023, the Islamic Republic's Judiciary issued a memo that announced the beginning of the process of releasing some of the protesters arrested during the 2022 national uprising. According to the judiciary's Mizan website, and latest comments made by the spokesperson for the judiciary, this "pardon" is in honor of the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution and contingent on the prisoners expressing regret; The pardon is not extended to cases with charges such as "connection to dissident groups", and "destruction of public property". However, many of the released prisoners have posted videos and notes saying they never requested a pardon and never expressed regret. There are even videos of female activists taking off their hijab and chanting against the Islamic Republic in front of the prison moments after their release. The release of prisoners being called a pardon has caused massive reaction online and some activists on social media and human rights organizations consider it a PR stunt to repair some of the damage to Ali Khamenei's image. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>