Canadian Iranian educator Homa Hoodfar jailed in Iran

A Canadian-Iranian anthropologist, Homa Hoodfar, has been arrested and held in Iran since Monday, sources close to the case said Wednesday.

Hoodfar, 65, is a professor at Concordia University in Montreal, and also holds Irish nationality. She is being held at Evin prison, family members said in a statement.

Hoodfar, who has written several works on women and society in Islamic countries, went to Iran in February to do research on women's public role.

Hoodfar was arrested on March 10 a few days before her planned return to Canada. Her belongings were searched and she was held pending interrogation, the sources said.

Her passport was taken, and Hoodfar was interrogated, family spokeswoman Amanda Ghahremani said.

The Canadian government has said it is actively engaged in the case.

The jailing comes months after Canada renewed ties with Tehran that were broken off under the prior Conservative government.

"The authorities have not made clear whether Professor Hoodfar is being charged with espionage, sedition, or propaganda against the state. Her lawyer and family have not been allowed to see her, nor has the cause of arrest been explained to them," the family said.