Zeinab Haj Hashemi, a 43-year-old Iranian athlete from Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, is currently jailed in Isfahan Prison, central Iran, under severe conditions.
Her detention stems from charges related to a sports video she posted on her Instagram account, which authorities have labeled as “corruption and promoting indecency,” “insulting religious sanctities,” and “propaganda against the regime.”
Since her arrest over two months ago, Zeinab Haj Hashemi has endured harsh solitary confinement without a formal court hearing, having only appeared before the prosecutor’s office. Reports indicate that she is under intense pressure, and her health has deteriorated significantly. There are suspicions that she may be suffering from cancer, necessitating urgent medical attention. Despite this, officials have reportedly frozen her bank accounts and blocked her social media profiles, further isolating her.
Zeinab Haj Hashemi holds a master’s degree in midwifery and a bachelor’s degree in information technology. She is currently unmarried. Her case highlights the Iranian regime’s ongoing crackdown on women’s rights and freedom of expression, particularly concerning the enforcement of strict dress codes and the suppression of dissenting voices.