Iranian intelligence officials detained three of women's rights activist Masih Alinejad's family members in a move criticized by Amnesty International and the Center for Human Rights in Iran as an attempt to intimidate the US-based activist and journalist into silence.
"The agents of the Intelligence Ministry of the Islamic Republic raided my brother house and handed him out in handcuff and blindfolded," Alinejad told DW. "They arrested him in front of his two small children.
"He was not involved in any kind of political activity," she added of her 45-year-old brother. "But right now, his crime is my activities against compulsory hijab and challenging the Islamic Republic of Iran."
Alinejad founded the White Wednesdays campaign to protest against Iran's mandatory headscarf, known as a hijab. She called the arrest of her family members a "typical" step for the Iranian government when it attempts to silence activists.
"This is what Stalin would do. This is what a dictator would do to its own citizens," she said. "The goal of the Islamic Republic was keeping me silent. I'm going to get louder against these hostage-takers." [Deutsche Welle] Read more
