Journalist Zahra Tohidi is currently serving her sentence in Evin Prison. On June 20, she was indicted with new charges at Evin Courthouse.

According to her husband, Alireza Khoshbakht, Zahra was accused of “propaganda against the regime.” The prosecution presented her Instagram posts as evidence during the hearing.

Zahra and her sister, Hoda (Zohreh) Tohidi, were initially arrested on September 22, 2022, by security forces in Tehran. They were released on bail on December 17, 2022.

Subsequently, the sisters received a five-year prison sentence each for “assembly and collusion against national security.” However, three-quarters of their sentence were suspended. After pleading no contest, a further reduction of one-quarter was granted.

On May 31, 2023, Zahra and Hoda Tohidi began serving their sentence at Evin Prison.

Background on the 2022 Nationwide Protests

The arrest of Mahsa Amini by Tehran Morality Police for her improper hejab and her suspicious death on September 16 sparked protests sweeping across Iran. Protesters came to the streets with the central slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” in protest against the performance, laws and structure of the regime. During the nationwide protests, thousands of people, including journalists, artists, lawyers, teachers, students and civil rights activists, were arrested.