Defying the IRGC: Rehabilitation Director Arrested After Refusing to Use Disabled Orphans as Human Shields
Zahra Hojat, director of the Hamdam institute in Mashhad, was violently arrested by Iranian forces after refusing to let the IRGC use disabled orphans as human shields. Known as the "Mother of 400 Girls," Hojat’s whereabouts remain unknown following the assault.
Zahra Hojat, the prominent director of the "Hamdam" rehabilitation institute in Mashhad, was violently arrested by Iranian security forces on Tuesday after refusing to allow the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to use her facility as a military base.
Hojat, widely revered in Iran as the "Mother of 400 Girls," manages one of the country's largest charitable institutions, providing housing and medical care for hundreds of orphaned girls and young women with physical and mental disabilities.
According to reports from Iran International and local witnesses, the conflict began when IRGC forces attempted to commandeer the institute's grounds to establish an operational base during the ongoing regional conflict.
Security forces reportedly sought to station military assets within the facility, effectively using the hundreds of vulnerable residents as a "human shield" against potential airstrikes.
Hojat strictly opposed the military presence, prioritizing the safety of the disabled children under her care.
Witnesses described a "particularly violent" scene in which security forces physically assaulted Hojat in front of horrified staff members.
Following the assault, Hojat was taken to an undisclosed location. Her family has received no information regarding her legal status or physical well-being, sparking intense concern among human rights organizations.
The incident is viewed as highly significant due to its location in Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city and a powerful religious and political center. The "Hamdam" institute is a prestigious charity, and the aggressive targeting of its leadership has ignited a wave of outrage across Iranian social media.