Prison Sentence of Asal Mohammadi Upheld by Court of Appeals

Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals upheld one year and eight months imprisonment sentence for Asal Mohammadi. Initially, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran had convicted Mohammadi on the charges of “propaganda against the regime and assembly and collusion against national security.”

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Court of Appeals upheld one year and eight months imprisonment sentence against workers’ rights activist Asal Mohammadi.

Mohammadi’s lawyer, Iman Soleimani, told HRANA, “During the detention, Mohammadi did not have access to a lawyer. During the trial process, I took her case but was not allowed to study the case documents or attend court sessions, which is a violation of Article 48 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Mohammadi was in poor mental condition. Contrary to what the law explicitly states, she had been interrogated without the accompaniment of a lawyer during the interrogation.”

On January 24, 2022, the trial was held and during the trial, participation in online campaigns such as “white torture” or membership in Marxist groups was used as evidence for the charges.

On November 6, 2021, the security forces arrested Mohammadi and Hirad Pirbodaghi in an aggressive manner.

Five days later, on November 11, Mohammadi was transferred to Public Ward 209 of Evin Prison and was released on bond on November 22, 2021.

Afsaneh Azimzadeh & Negar Masoudi Summoned to the Judgement Enforcement Unit of Evin Court

Children’s Rights Activists Afsaneh Azimzadeh and documentary filmmaker and photographer Negar Masoudi were summoned to the Judgement Enforcement Unit of Evin. Earlier, they had been sentenced to a total of 6 years and 8 months in prison and a fine. Later on, the prison sentence was commuted to a fine.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists,  the Judgement Enforcement Unit of Evin summoned Children’s Rights Activists Afsaneh Azimzadeh and documentary filmmaker and photographer Negar Masoudi.

Earlier, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court, headed by Judge Afshari, sentenced Negar Masoudi to four years and eight months in prison on the charge of “acting against national security and propaganda against the regime.” She also was fined the amount of 80 million tomans for “provocation of indecency and prostitution.” Afsaneh Azimzadeh was sentenced to two years in prison on the charge of “act against national security.” Later, the court commuted the prison sentence.

On December 14, 2020, security forces arrested Afsaneh Azimzadeh and transferred her to Ward 2-A of Evin Prison which is at disposal of IRGC’s intelligence unit. On January 26, 2021,  he was released on bail.

Afsaneh Azimzadeh is the co-founder of the Association in Defense of Child Laborers. For more than 15 years, she has been involved in the education and social aiding of child labourers.

On October 29, 2020, Negar Masoudi was arrested by security forces in Tehran and sent to Ward 2-A of Evin prison. On January 9, 2021, she was released temporarily on bail of 2.5 billion tomans.

Negar Masoudi is a documentary filmmaker and photographer. She has launched a various photo and video exhibitions and directed a number of documentaries.

Political Prisoner Zahra Safai Denied Urgent Medical Treatment by Prison Officials

On Tuesday, April 12, 2022, despite prior agreement and a set appointment, prison officials denied dispatching the political prisoner Zahra Safai to a hospital. The denial was under the pretext of her disagreement with transfer with handcuff and foot cuffs. According to the State Prisons and Security and Corrective Measures Organization’s rules, transferring the prisoners with foot cuffs except for prisoners of violent crimes is forbidden.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, through the obstruction of prison officials, political prisoner Zahra Safai was denied medical treatment.

Mrs Safai suffers from heart disease and has had angiography surgery in the past. Since September of last year, she has been dispatched several times to a hospital outside the prison. This time, the prison officials denied her access to urgent medical care.

On February 24, 2020, security forces arrested Zahra Safai and her daughter Parastoo Moeini in Tehran and transferred them to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. In April 2020, they were sent in exile to Qarchak Prison in Varamin City. On June 28, 2020, Mrs Safai was released on bail with the amount of 300 million tomans. However, on July 26 of that year, they increased the bail ten times and subsequently arrested and sent her back to Qarchak Prison when she could not provide the set bail.

In February of 2021, Branch 23 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Mrs Safai to 5 years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”, one year on the charge of “propaganda against the regime” and two years on the charge of “offensive statements against the former and current Supreme Leader of Iran”. As an additional punishment, she was banned from leaving the country and membership in any political parties or civil groups.

Zahra Safai has also faced arrest and conviction in 2006. Further, during the 1980’s she had been imprisoned for a while. Her father, Haji Safai was a well-known businessman who was executed on the charge of “advocacy for the People’s Mujahedin Organization of Iran (the Mujahedin-e-Khalq or MEK)”.

Workers’ Rights Activist Alieh Eghdam-Doost Still in Detention After Two Months

After two months, workers’ rights activist Alieh Eghdam-Doost is still in detention in Women’s Ward of Evin Prison as she is unable to afford the bail.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, workers’ rights activist Alieh Eghdam-Doost has been detained in Evin Prison for the past two months.

Last month, on his personal page on social media, Ramin Safarnia, her lawyer, informed that Mrs Eghdam-Doost has been granted bail. But so far, she and her family have not been able to provide the bail. 

On February 7 of 2022, security forces arrested Eghdam-Doost at her house in Fuman City. This arrest was made under the warrant issued by Branch 2 of Fuman’s Courthouse on behalf of Evin Courthouse. Reportedly, Eghdam-Doost has been charged with “propaganda against the regime.”

Alieh Eghdam-Doost, 69, is a workers’ rights activist and has faced other arrests and convictions before.

 

Four Women’s Rights Activists Summoned for Sentencing

Four women’s rights activists, Nahid Shaghaghi, Akram Nasirian, Maryam Mohammadi and Asrin Darkaleh were summoned by the Judgement Enforcement Unit of Evin courthouse for sentencing. According to the summons letter, they have to appear at the court within 30 days.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Four women’s rights activists, Akram Nasirian, Maryam Mohammadi and Asrin Darkaleh have been summoned for sentencing.

Akram Nasirian on April 29, 2019, Nahid Shaghaghi on May 15, 2019, Maryam Mohammadi on July 8, 2019, and Asrin Darkaleh on July 28, 2019, were arrested by security forces. They all were released on bail from May to August.

Subsequently, Branch 24 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, headed by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced each of these activists to 3 years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security”, 6 months on the charge of “propaganda against the regime” and 8 months on the charge of “removing Hijab in public”. Per Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the severest punishment of three years sentence on the first count was enforceable for each.

The sentencing was later reduced on appeal to two years and three months each.

These four activists are members of “Voice of Iranian Women”, striving for women’s empowerment and raising the voice of Iranian women.

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International Women’s Day: An Overview on Women Rights and Its Defenders in Iran

In many countries, International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8, is designated to commemorate women’s historical struggle for rights, honor their sacrifices and celebrate their cultural and political achievements. The Islamic Republic of Iran, however, refuses to follow this path. The regime never agreed to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and its law blatantly violates the most fundamental rights of women, including the right of women to make decisions relating to their bodies and clothing choices, as well as equal opportunities in both social and economic realms.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, in the absence of any protective laws and punishments against “honor killings”, both domestic and non-domestic violence against women is widespread. Women’s rights defenders and gender equality advocates are frequently subjected to pressure and arbitrary detention by regime security forces, leading to prosecution, unfair trials and convictions by judicial authorities. Currently, many women’s rights activists await verdicts, and others are serving sentences in prison— often in the same ward as prisoners of violent crimes, jeopardizing their safety.

According to HRANA’s Annual Analytical and Statistical Report on Human Rights in Iran, based on 90 registered reports by the Department of Statistics, at least 43 women reported physical and sexual abuse in the last year. In addition, there were 24 reported cases of honor killings, eight self-immolations, three acid attacks, and four cases where women’s rights activists were summoned to judicial and security organizations. There were 20,187 reported cases of domestic abuse against women and 13 murders. This report also details that seven women were detained for reasons related to women’s rights and at least four women’s rights activists were sentenced to a total of 282 months in prison.

It is worth mentioning that this data is merely collected from media reports. The real figures are likely much higher and more daunting, as many domestic violence cases are never reported to legal authorities.

Women’s Rights Violations

Honor Killings:  An honor killing is the murder of an individual, often a girl or woman, by a family member or relative in an attempt to restore the honor of the family. The victim’s act, such as refusing forced marriage, being the victim of a rape, getting a divorce, or adultery, is deemed traditionally or religiously shameful or dishonorable by the family or community.

In Iran’s law system, the punishment for murder is usually decided by the “blood avenger”, most often the father, as he is the first degree male relative. Consequently, the perpetrator in an honor killing is either identical to or related to the blood avenger. Thanks to this legal flaw, many honor killers get away without heavy punishment.

For example, Romina Ashrafi, age 13, was beheaded by her father in an honor killing. His father was sentenced to nine years in prison, which is considered a light sentence compared to the death penalty, normally a routine punishment for homicide in Iran.

Violence Against Girls and Women- Iran is one of the four countries in the world that has not recognized the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Through the efforts of a number of women’s rights activists, a bill known as the Protection, Dignity, and Security of Women Against Violence was approved by the government on January 3, 2021. However, when the bill was drafted in Hassan Rouhani’s first cabinet, 40 of the 90 articles of the bill were removed. Former Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, Masoumeh Ebtekar, announced that the bill was not presented Parliament for approcal five months after the approval of the cabinet. Recently, Shiva Ghasemipour of the Women’s Faction in Parliament announced that the bill was handed over to the Judiciary for further review.

Bodily Autonomy- In February of 2022, the Medical Equipment Department imposed a regulation whereby pharmacies all over the country were prohibited to provide contraceptives pills without a prescription. The regulation addresses department deputies at medical universities, prohibiting them from distributing free or subsidized birth control or contraceptive implantation. It also prohibits the promotion of contraceptive pills and treatments. In an effort to implement the Rejuvenation of The Population And Support of Family bill such regulations aim to make birth control and abortion harder for women to access. These restrictions on providing contraceptive pills, contraceptive-related services and strict rules against abortion blatantly violate the inalienable rights of women to make decisions relating to their bodies and increase the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and vaginal cancer.

Forced Veiling- Among other restrictions, forcing women to wear a veil is one of the most flagrant violations of women’s rights. As UN Human Rights Council asserts, any coercion pertaining to women’s clothes signifies the blatant violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by the government. Nonetheless, Iran’s regime, both in law and practice, not only forces women to wear a veil but also prosecutes and suppress women who oppose the compulsory veil. While Iran’s law cites punishments ranging from a fine of 50,000 tomans to two months imprisonment, citizens are in practice faced with more serious and groundless accusations such as “spreading corruption on earth” which can be punishable up to 10 years in prison. All these penalties stand in violation of Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Right to Education- According to the Society for Protecting the Rights of the Child’s CEO, in Iran, about one million children in poor areas are deprived of school. From them, 49,000 children are barred from education due to either lacking birth certificates or being forced to work. These numbers vary wildly each year. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of children out of school tripled.

Besides poverty, lack of birth certificates and child labour, some girls are barred from school by families who are adhere to traditional norms and prejudices. In 2020, 4142 girls left school because of child marriage or family disallowance.

Cultural Rights- Iran’s regime prohibits women from dancing and singing in the public, which violates Article 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which asserts the right of everyone to take part in cultural activities. Despite women being legally allowed to be in sports stadiums, they face many obstructions by authorities in practice.

Marriage and Family Rights- In violation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which asserts the abolition of any gender discrimination in the law system, Iranian women are legally subjected to discrimination in many aspects of their family life, such as divorce and child custody. Married women require their husband’s permission to receive passports and leave the country.. Additionally, they do not have the right to choose where they live. The law allows the man to bar his wife from working outside the home if he considers the work in conflict with “family values”. In addition, as a duty of marriage, women are obliged to satisfy their husband’s sexual desires, arguably denying the right to consent during marital intercourse.

The UN Human Rights Council has stated that these discriminative laws violate Article 23.4 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Women’s Rights Activists

Convicted (But Not Imprisoned) Women’s Rights Activists

 

Tahmineh Mofidi

On January 2, 2021, women’s rights activist Tahmineh Mofidi was arrested by IRGCS intelligence agents at her house and transferred to Ward 2-A of Evin Prison On February 2, 2021, she was released on bail of 1.5 billion tomans until the end of legal proceedings. Thereafter, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced her to three years and seven months in prison and a fine of 15 million tomans on charges of “acting against national security through assembly and collusion” and “promotion of sexual perversion on social media”. Based on her refusal to appeal, as well as Article 34 of the Islamic Penal Code where only the severest punishment from multiple counts is enforceable, the verdict was reduced to a fine of 37 million tomans.

During the trial, actions such as writing the stories of women who have been the victim of sexual assault, advocating for a symbolic protest against the compulsory veil known as “Girls of Enghelab Street”, and coaching without a veil were invoked to support these charges. Initially, she was also accused of “promoting impurity and indecency ” which later was changed to “promotion of sexual perversion on social media”.

 

Imprisoned Women’s Rights Activists

 

Yasaman Aryani and Monireh Arabshahi

Yasaman Aryani and her mother Monireh Arabshahi, both civil activists and outspoken opponents of the forced veil, are currently serving sentences in Kachooie Prison in Karaj City. On April 10, 2019, one day after the arrest of her mother, Aryani was arrested and transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin City. They both were relocated to Evin Prison on August 13, 2019, and transferred again on October 21, 2021 to Kachooie Prison in Karaj.

On August 7, 2021, each was sentenced to 16 years in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime” and “provoking impurity and indecency”. These verdicts were reduced for each to nine years and seven months in prison. Per 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the severest punishment of five years and six months is enforceable. Arabshahi is still imprisoned and denied adequate medical treatment, despite being certified intolerant of punishment, and both an endocrinologist and neurologist asserting her need for lumbar disc and thyroid surgery.

On February 23, Aryani, who is co-housed with prisoners of violent crimes, was beaten by some fellow prisoners.

 

Saba Kord Afshari and Raheleh Ahmadi

Civil activists Saba Kord Afshari and her mother Raheleh Ahmadi were arrested on June 1 and July 10 2019, respectively. On August 27, 2019, Afshari was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment on the charge of “promoting corruption and obscenity by appearing without a headscarf in public”, one year and six months on the charge of “propaganda against the regime” and seven years and six months on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”, totaling 24 years imprisonment.

This verdict was increased two and half times more due to a previous record, before finally being corrected in March of last year and reduced from 15 years to 7 years and 6 months. Per Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the severest punishment of seven years and six months is enforceable.

On January 26, 2021, she was violently relocated from Ward 8 to Ward 6 of Qarchak Prison. Currently, she is held in the same ward as prisoners of violent crimes, which violates Iran prison rules.

On December 10, 2019, Ahmadi was sentenced to three years and six months in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security through collaboration with anti-regime media” and eight months on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. Ahmadi was granted medical furlough after contracting COVID-19 on February 16. Afshari was also granted short term furlough one day after she was beaten by a prisoner of violent crime on February 20, and was therefore able to meet her mother on furlough.

Aliye Motallebzadeh

On November 26, 2016, Aliye Motallebzadeh, photographer and women’s rights defender, was arrested during her appearance at the Ministry of Intelligence office after phone summons. She was detained in Ward 209 at the Ministry of Intelligence’s disposal until December 19 2016, when she was released on bail of 300 million tomans until the end of legal proceedings.

The Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced her to three years imprisonment for the charges of “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the regime.” This verdict was upheld by Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals.

On October 11, 2020, Motallebzadeh was sent to Evin Prison to serve her sentence after appearing at Evin Courthouse. On January 10, she was transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin City to serve the rest of her sentence in exile. On February 23, she was granted medical furlough after contracting COVID-19.

 

Women’s Rights Activists Who Are Awaiting Imprisonment

 

Nahid Shaghaghi, Akram Nasirian, Maryam Mohammadi and Asrin Darkaleh

All four activists were arrested by security forces; Akram Nasirian on April 29, 2019, Nahid Shaghaghi on May 15, 2019, Maryam Mohammadi on July 8, 2019 and Asrin Darkaleh on July 28, 2019. They all were released on bail from May to August. Branch 24 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, headed by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced the activists to a total of 16 years and 8 months imprisonment. Per Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the severest punishment of three years sentence on one count was enforceable for each. This was later reduced on appeal to two years and three months each. Recently, they were summoned by the Executive Unit of Evin Courthouse to serve their sentences.

 

Raha (Raheleh) Askarizadeh

On November 28, 2019, journalist, photographer and women’s rights activist Raha (Raheleh) Askarizadeh was arrested at Imam Khomeini International Airport while leaving the country. On December 31 of that year, she was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings. Initially, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced her to two years imprisonment, a two year ban from leaving the country and a two year prohibition from political activities in media, political groups and social media. The verdict was upheld on appeal. In April of 2021, she was summoned by the Executive Unit of Evin Courthouse to serveher sentence.

 

Najmeh Vahedi and Hoda Amidi

On September 1, 2018, women’s rights activists, Najmeh Vahedi and Hoda Amidi were arrested by IRGC intelligence agents and then released on bail in November of that year. For the charge of “collaboration with the hostile country (U.S.) against the regime regarding women and family issues”, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced Hoda Amidi to eight years imprisonment, two years prohibiti

on of membership in political groups and parties, prohibition of political activities in media and on the internet, two years ban from leaving the country, two years prohibition of the exercise of the profession as a la

wyer. For the same charge, Najmeh Vahedi was sentenced to seven years imprisonment, two years prohibition of membership in political groups and parties, prohibition of political activities in media and on the internet, two years ban from leaving the country.

These verdicts were upheld on appeal. Running the educational workshops for women on setting out preconditions in marriage such as having the right to divorce (in order to restore the denied rights on divorce for women), was invoked during the trial as examples of the above-mentioned charges.

 

Atsa Ahmadai Rafsanjani

On January 20, 2019, the Baha’i resident of Tehran was arrested by security forces at her house and transferred to a solitary confinement cell in Ward 241 of Evin Prison at the disposal of the Judiciary’s counterintelligence. On March 6, 2019, she was released on bail of 200 million tomans until the end of legal proceedings. In May 2021, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced her to four years imprisonment on the charge of “formation of a group to act against national security through registering an NGO on women empowerment”, three years in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”, and one year in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”.

She was condemned for the first charge despite the Ministry of Interior had already rejecting her request to form an NGO due to being Baha’i. If the verdict is upheld on appeal, four years imprisonment for the first count is enforceable per Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.

 

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For further inquiries please contact Skylar Thompson, Senior Advocacy Coordinator Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA) at skylar@hramail.com

Civil Activist Raheleh Ahmadi Granted Furlough After Contracting COVID-19

On February 16, civil activist Raheleh Ahmadi, currently imprisoned in Evin Prison, was dispatched for five days of medical furlough after contracting COVID-19.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Ahmadi showed worrying COVID-19 symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, sore throat, acute body aches and fever for several days, yet was deprived of adequate medical treatment, along with other inmates. According to an informed source, she fell twice due to acute dizziness. Ahmadi suffers from a low functioning thyroid, which worsens her health condition.

On July 9, 2019, Ahmadi was arrested by security forces. In December of 2019, the Revolutionary Court of Tehran sentenced her to three years and six months in prison on charges of “assembly and collusion against national security through collaboration with anti-regime media” and eight months on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”. She was acquitted from the charge of “promoting indecency through removing the veil from her head in public and publishing its picture on the internet”.

Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the sentence of three years and six months is enforceable for the count of “assembly and collusion”. Instead of objecting and appealing the sentence, she asked for commutation and consequently, the verdict was reduced to two years and seven months in prison.

On February 15, 2020, she was sent to Evin Prison to serve her sentence.

On July 18, 2021, she was granted furlough to attend her mother’s funeral. During her incarceration, a new legal case was opened against her in Branch 1 of Evin Courthouse. However, she refused to appear in court after being unable to access a selected lawyer.

Ahmadi is the mother of Saba Kurd Afshari. She is a political prisoner and civil activist.

17 Year Old Woman Beheaded by Her Husband

On February 5, 17 year old Mona Heydari was killed and beheaded by her husband in Ahvaz City. A video circulated on social media shows the man walking around the street with his wife’s head in his hand. Reportedly, the murderer saw it as an honor killing. These horrific pictures brought about a wave of criticism on social media regarding the regime and the Islamic Penal Code, arguing they encourage honor killings by exempting the murderer from severe punishment.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting ROKNA, around 3 PM in Kasai Square, Ahvaz City, the murderer showed up with his wife’s head in his hand for a minute and then left. When the incident was reported, police, along with homicide detectives, went to the spot and began the investigation.

Further investigation showed that after running away to Turkey, Heydari had been recently brought back by her husband to Iran, where she was then killed by her husband and brother-in-law. Reportedly, both men have been arrested by police.

On Sunday, one day after reporting this news, ROKNA news agency was closed down by authorities, apparently due to the report.

Honor killing or “shame killing” is the murder of an individual, mostly girls and women, by her family members or relatives for an act— such as adultery, divorce, avoiding forced marriage— that religiously or traditionally is deemed dishonorable or shameful. The Islamic Penal Code of Iran exempts the perpetrator from severe punishment.

Soheila Hejab Beaten and Threatened Following Protest Against Poor Quality Prison Food

Since January 31, inmates of the women’s ward in the Correctional Center of Kermanshah have refused to get their meals in protest against the poor quality of the prison food. During the protest, the head of the prison guards beat political prisoner Soheila Hejab and threatened to open a new legal case against her and send her to an exile prison. Other protesting prisoners have been threatened with denial of visits and phone calls.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, an informed source stated that “on the first day, Soheila Hejab brought a piece of burned food to the head of the prison and asked her if he [could] eat it. He responded that they are running low on budget and therefore the food is what it is. When Soheila Hejab was returning to her ward, she saw the decorations for celebrating Fajr decade (an annual ten-day celebration for the triumph of the 1979 revolution). She protested why they do not use the costs of this celebration for improving food quality. Following a verbal quarrel, in response, the Head of Prison Guards Leila Hosseini-Nia beat her hard in the chest and hit her with a mirror.”

According to this source, prison officials have tried to accuse her of provoking a riot in prison. They have threatened to deny other prisoners visitations and phone calls unless they corroborated this and signed reports as witnesses.

Once before, in October 2021, Hejab was beaten in Qarchak Prison while on hunger strike.

Hejab was arrested by security forces on June 1, 2019, and then released from Evin Prison in Tehran on a bail of 3 billion tomans on March 14, 2020.

Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced her to 18 years in prison on charges of “propaganda against the regime”, “illegal assembly”, “incitement of public opinions to riot” and “organizing unlawful political groups”.

On May 23, 2020, the intelligence unit of the Revolutionary Guards arrested and transferred her to Gharchak Prison in Varamin City to serve her sentence. She was then transferred to Sanandaj Prison and then, on January 7, to the Correctional Center of Kermanshah City.

Narges Mohammadi Transferred to Qarchak Prison

Narges Mohammadi, the spokesperson of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, was transferred from Evin Prison to Qarchak Prison in Varamin City. In November of last year, she was arrested in Karaj City and has since been held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, her husband, Taghi Rahmani, confirmed the news and commented that his wife has not made a phone call since her relocation to Qarchak Prison, which raises concerns.

On November 16, 2021, she was arrested by security forces during her attendance at a ceremony honouring Ebrahim Ketabdar, who was killed by security forces in Karaj during the November 2019 protests. She was detained in a solitary confinement cell in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. On November 22, 2021, she was notified about the charges in Evin courthouse.

On December 29, 2021, security agents raided and searched her house and confiscated some of her personal belongings.

She has already faced other arrests and convictions and was imprisoned from May 5, 2015, until October of last year, Narges Mohammadi was imprisoned.

In May of 2021, Branch 1177 of the Criminal Court in the Ghods Judicial Complex in Tehran sentenced Mohammadi to 30 months in prison and 80 lashes, as well as fines. She was charged with “propaganda against the regime through the issuance of a statement against the death penalty”, “sit-down strike at prison office”, “property destruction by breaking glass” and “libel and assault”.

According to a report published by HRANA, in an open statement, Mohammadi stated that she will not, “under any circumstances”, attend any court hearing, and will refuse to accept any verdict from the judiciary courts.

In December 2019, Mohammadi and seven other political prisoners in the women’s ward of Evin Prison announced in a letter that they would go on a sit-down strike in support of bereaved families who lost loved ones in November 2019 national protests. Evin Prison officials threatened to deport her and others who participated in the strike to prisons known for their harsher conditions. Subsequently, she was punitively transferred from Evin Prison to Zanjan Prison in December 2019.

Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code and the charges against her, the severest punishment of 10 years was enforceable, but after five years and six months in prison, Mohammadi was finally released from Zanjan Prison. Mohammadi has since been denied a passport and barred from leaving the country to visit her husband and children even though her previous conviction did not mention a supplementary ban on international travel.