The List of Women, Imprisoned on Charge of Muharebeh

HRANA News Agency – Prisoners who have been sentenced with the old penal code, now have a chance of retrial, reduction of sentence and even freedom. Currently, many prisoners, including at least 11 female prisoners have heavy sentences on the charge of Muharebeh. The following list, as the first list of “prisoners with Muharebeh charges”, is concentrated on these 11 female prisoners.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), at least 11 female prisoners with Muharebeh charges are held in different prisons across the country and are serving heavy sentences. According to the new penal code and by changing the section about Muharebeh, they could ask for retrial. Many of them may find reduction in their sentences, and for some, due to a long time that they have already served there is a chance of being released.

According to the new Islamic Penal Code, passed in 2013, definitions of Muharebeh, corruption on Earth, and violation, in articles number 279 to 288 have changed. According to paragraph B of part number 10 of Islamic Penal Code that was passed in 2013, the judge is mandated to process and issue the sentence based on the new law. In addition, the court can issue the reduction of sentence.

The names of these prisoners, along with brief details about their cases are as following:

Reyhaneh Haj Ebrahim Dabbagh:

Charges: waging war against the state by working with an opposition group.

Sentence: 15 years in prison.

Medical conditions: bowel disease, colitis and foot discomfort.

Prison/detention centre: women ward of Evin prison

Time of arrest: January 26, 2010

Description: Among the Ashura arrestees, she was arrested along with her husband, Ahmad Daneshpoor, her father in law and her mother in law. She refuses to be sent to hospital in handcuffs and therefore has been deprived of medical treatment for her neck and bone problems. Her husband is held in ward 350 of Evin and is suffering from different diseases, while his father is on death row for his political activities.

Maryam Akbari Monfared (41 years old):

Charges: waging war against the state by working with an opposition group.

The first sentence: 15 years in prison.

Time of arrest: January 30, 2010

Description: her brother Hamidreza Akbari Monfared is also for similar charges in Rajai Shahr prison.

Sedigheh Moradi (57 years old):

Charges: waging war against the state by working with an opposition group.

Sentence: 10 years in prison.

Time of arrest: May 1, 2011

Description: Experienced imprisonment in the 1980s, a parole request has been sent to the Supreme Court but has so far remained unanswered.

Behnaz Zakeri (54 years old):

Charges: waging war against the state by working with an opposition group.

Sentence: 10 years in prison.

Time of arrest: May 1, 2011

Prison/detention centre: women ward of Evin prison

Medical condition: severe nerve problems

Zahra Zehtabchi (46 years old):

Charges: waging war against the state by working with an opposition group.

Sentence: 12 years in prison.

Time of arrest: October 16, 2013

Prison/detention centre: women ward of Evin prison.

Description: arrest record in 2009 as well.

Fatemeh Muthana (46 years old):

Charges: waging war against the state by working with an opposition group.

The first verdict: 15 years in prison.

Medical condition: suffers from mental illness and neurological diseases.

Time of arrest: 2015

Prison/detention centre: women ward of Evin prison physical problems

Description: three years in prison at the age of 13 which she has served in the 1980s, a while ago her husband was also arrested in the prison meeting hall due to the political activities and was transferred to Rajai Shahr prison.

Zainab Jalalian:

Charges: waging war against the state by being a member in a Kurdish opposition group

Time of arrest: March 16, 2008

Prison/detention centre: Khoy prison

Medical condition: Suffering from eyesight disruption

Safiyeh Sadeghi:

Charges: waging war against the state by being a member in a Kurdish opposition group

Time of arrest: November 2010

Prison/detention centre: Sanandaj prison

Ghadriyeh Ghaderi:

Charges: waging war against the state by being a member in a Kurdish opposition group

Time of arrest: July 2010