Heroo Ghadimi: A Highly Respected Iranian Activist Jailed for Unknown Reasons

Heroo Ghadimi, a well-known civil activist from the mainly Kurdish city of Saqqez, has been held in custody for nearly one month.

Ghadimi, 43, was arrested on September 12, just a few days before the one-year anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death in police custody. 

According to information obtained by IranWire, she has been allowed to see her daughter just once, but not her husband. 

The activist has been denied the right to legal representation, and the authorities have not provided any explanation to her family regarding the reasons for her arrest.

Ghadimi‘s involvement in charity organizations earned her the trust and respect of many people in Saqqez and the surrounding region, including in the cities of Baneh, Bukan, Sardasht, Piranshahr and Oshnavieh. 

"We were in contact with many families who couldn't even afford a meal for the night,” a close relative told an IranWire citizen reporter. “This deeply saddened and affected Ghadimi." 

"As a result, she battled a form of depression. Sometimes she shed tears due to the dire situations of these families. This depression and her need for treatment have been highlighted in recent reports by human rights networks," the source added. 

Ghadimi and other women civil activists formed a network that distributed food to those in need during holidays, clothing for New Year celebrations and educational materials. They also offered educational assistance at the start of the school year.

On the day of her arrest, she was collecting donations for students who lacked mobile phones or tablets. She also arranged remote classes for them. 

All these charitable activities ended when the authorities stormed her residence and detained her, extinguishing hope among many children, women and single mothers.