Text Message | Turkish Women Save Rebel Iranian Woman From Life in Prison

The sudden arrest of Maryam Shariatmadari, one of the iconic anti-hejab protesters called Girls of Enghelab Street (Revolution Street), in the Turkish city of Denizli was as dramatic as what followed next!

Maryam had jumped bail and fled to Turkey in 2018 after she was arrested the second time under national security charges in Iran.

Then, suddenly last week, September 8th, she was arrested by Turkish police claiming "her residency permit" had expired and attempted to deport her back to Iran.

But Maryam wasn't going without a fight. She started streaming via Instagram her detention by Turkish police from the back of the police car and appealed to Turkish women to save her from deportation.

Word quickly spread in Turkish social media and, women swung into action, organizing legal support and a widely supported social media pressure campaign to gain her release.

Women all over Turkey, from celebrities to students, pressured their government to release Maryam immediately.

Elif Shafak @Elif_Safak

İranlı kadın hakları ve eşitlik savunucusu, zorunlu başörtü uygulamasına karşı çıkma cesaretini gösterdiği için vatanından ayrılmak zorunda kalan #MeryemŞariatmedari #MeryemSariatmedari İran’a iade edilmesin asla!

September 8th 2020

140 Retweets527 Likes

---

Aydin Bar Association sprang into action and provided her with legal support and Gokhan Bozkurt, president of the Aydin Bar Association began monitoring the situation over night.

Av.Gökhan Bozkurt @gokhanbozkurt09

İranlı kadın Meryem'le ilgili konu Aydın Barosu adına tarafımızca takip edilmekte olup, kendisinin Aydın Geri Gönderme Merkezi'nde değil halen Denizli'de olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Süreci takip etmeye devam ediyoruz.

Peyman Aref @Peyman_Aref

#SonDakika İranlı kadın aktivist ve zorunlu başörtüye karşı #İnkilapCaddesiKızları isimli hareketten İranda tutuklanıp kesinleşmiş hapis cezası olan ve sonra Türkiye’ye kaçan #MeryemŞariatmedari bu akşam Denizli’de Tr güvenlik güçleri tarafından yakalanıp İran’a iade edilmek https://t.co/iOO4CbofNf

September 8th 2020

48 Retweets181 Likes

---

Next day Aydin Bar Association president tweeted, “Meryem from Iran is now free. Denizli Bar Association and our lawyer friends are doing what is necessary.”

Av.Gökhan Bozkurt @gokhanbozkurt09

İranlı Meryem şu anda serbest. Denizli Barosu ve avukat arkadaşlarımız gerekeni yapıyorlar.

Av.Gökhan Bozkurt @gokhanbozkurt09

İranlı kadın Meryem'le ilgili konu Aydın Barosu adına tarafımızca takip edilmekte olup, kendisinin Aydın Geri Gönderme Merkezi'nde değil halen Denizli'de olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Süreci takip etmeye devam ediyoruz. https://t.co/bhwBX9dfk7

September 8th 2020

64 Retweets372 Likes

---

After spending a night in police custody, Maryam was freed and granted official refugee status due to the pressure campaign by Turkish women, rights activists and lawyers who chose to stand by an Iranian woman.

---