Iranian Hijab Protester Rashno Released On Bail After Being Held For Over Two Months

Sepideh Rashno, pictured with her lawyer and brother following her release on August 30, arrested on June 15 after a video of her arguing with another woman who was enforcing rules on wearing a head scarf on a bus in Tehran went viral.

Sepideh Rashno, a 28-year-old writer and artist who has been detained for more than two months for refusing to wear a mandatory hijab while on public transit, has been released on temporary bail.

Rashno's lawyer and her brother posted pictures on social media on August 30 showing her on a street in Tehran after being released on bail of 8 billion Iranian rials ($27,000).

Rashno's release from prison occurred one day after the first hearing of her trial.

Rashno was arrested on June 15 after a video of her arguing with another woman who was enforcing rules on wearing a head scarf on a bus in Tehran went viral.

The other woman threatened to send the video -- which showed Rashno riding the bus without a hijab -- to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

After she disappeared for several days, Iranian state television aired a "confession" by Rashno in a video report on July 30 where she appeared to be in a poor physical state and was reportedly rushed to hospital after the video was recorded.

The ISNA news agency, quoting the head of a branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran, said Rashno is accused of "assembly and collusion with the intention of committing a crime against the security of the country" by communicating with foreigners and through her "propaganda activity against the Islamic republic and encouraging people to corruption and prostitution."

Recent reports show that authorities in Iran are increasingly cracking down on women deemed to be in violation of wearing the hijab, which is mandatory in public in Iran.

The hijab first became compulsory in public for Iranian women and girls over the age of 9 after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Many Iranian women have flouted the rule over the years in protest and pushed the boundaries of what officials say is acceptable clothing.

Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda