Saeed Dehghan, a human rights lawyer, has announced on social media that Zahra Shafiei, a filmmaker and civil activist, has been hospitalized due to a stroke.
According to the Campaign for the Defense of Political and Civil Prisoners, Ms. Shafiei “suffered a stroke due to severe blows inflicted by authorities during her arrest and has been hospitalized for brain surgery and tumor removal since May 9th, 2024.”
It is said that Ms. Shafiei became aware of the brain tumor when she was under medical treatment due to the brain injuries sustained during her detention.
Mr. Dehghan writes that she is “facing 9 years and 6 months of imprisonment.”
Ms. Shafiei Dehghani was arrested on the anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s killing on September 16, 2023. On October 3rd, she said in a phone call from Qarchak Varamin Prison that authorities in plain clothes and black clothing detained her with beatings and blows to her head and face on Enqelab Street.
Ms. Shafiei has also been detained and imprisoned in recent years for supporting Ali Taheri, the founder of Erfan Circle.