Homa Hoodfar, Concordia University professor, indicted in Iran

Homa Hoodfar, an Iranian-Canadian professor at Concordia University in Montreal, has been indicted in Iran on unknown charges, according to Iranian news agencies.

Hoodfar, 65,was first arrested in March shortly before she was to leave the country by the counter-intelligence unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guardswho searched her Tehran residence, and seized her personal computers,cellphoneandpassport. Theytold her she could not leave Iran to return to Canada.

CanadianMinister of Foreign AffairsStphaneDionissued a statement Mondaysaying the government isworking to helpHoodfar.

Dion added that for confidentiality reasons, no details on the exact movements of the government could be made public at this time.

"We are aware of media reports pertaining to charges being laid against Dr.Hoodfar. Consular officials are seeking to confirm these reports," anemailedstatement from his office reads.

• Concordia University prof jailed in Iran's Evin prison
• Homa Hoodfarstill not allowed contact with family, lawyer
• Concordia colleagues mobilize to help jailed professor

Iran's semi-officialISNAandTasnimnews agencies quoted Tehran's prosecutor, AbbasJafariDowlatabadi, as announcingcharges had been filed specifically againstHoodfarand others:

• SiamakNamazi, an Iranian-American businessman.
• NazaninZaghari-Ratcliffe, an Iranian-British woman who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of the news agency.
• NizarZakka, a U.S. permanent resident from Lebanon who has done work for the American government.

Hoodfar'scolleagues areworried for her safety in prison and doing everythingthey can to rally support for her from around the world. They are contacting the government and speaking with media on her behalf.

"We're very concerned with her being in prison especially since she's had health issues recently," saidGeneviveRail, a professor atConcordiaUniversity.

Hoodfar'sfamily told CBC News inJune that shehad beendetainedin Iran's notoriousEvinprisonon charges of"co-operatingwith a foreign state."

Hoodfar,who holds both Canadian and Iranian passports, isananthropologist andteaches at Concordia. She'sa world expert on sexuality and gender in Islam, and has written a number of books and papers.

"Homa has been a keen observer of Middle Eastern societies, so she's been doing this kind of research for 40 years," Rail said."She was visiting family but took the opportunity to do archival research."

Rail added that when Hoodfar was first arrested, she returned to her family and told them not to alert the media since she thought it was a misunderstanding.

"We want her back. She's an asset to our city, our university and women."