Mojgan Kavousi Freed from Kachooie Prison

On January 5, political prisoner Mojgan Kavousi was released on furlough. By the end of her furlough period, she will have completed her sentence and will not return to prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Kavousi was released on furlough from Kachooie Prison in Karaj City.

On November 20, 2019, Kavousi was arrested by security forces in her home in Noshahr amid the nationwide protests that occurred in the fall of that year. After being held in detention for three weeks, she was sent to Noshahr Prison. On December 19, 2019, she was released on bail.

The Revolutionary Court in Noshahr sentenced her to six months in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”, 33 months in prison for “membership in an opposing party” and 30 months in prison for “provocation in order to disturb public order”. During the appeal process, the first sentence was increased from six to seven and a half months due to the influence of the prosecutor. Moreover, she was sentenced to an additional 36 months on a new charge of “agitation in order to disturb public order”. The severest punishment of 36 months for the last charge was enforced, grounded in Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.

On May 19, 2020, she was arrested and sent to Evin Prison to serve her sentence.

On July 26, 2021, Branch 28 of the Court of Appeals issued an order to relocate her to prison in Alborz Province to serve the rest of her sentence. Therefore, she was transferred from Evin Prison to Kachooie Prison in Karaj City on October 13, 2021.

Mojgan Kavouci is a writer, researcher and follower of Yarsanism.

Inmates in Women’s Ward of Kachooie Prison Face Poor Conditions

Inmates in the Women’s Ward of Kachooie Prison in Karaj are being held in poor conditions, a new report reflects.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the Women’s Ward is composed of one quarantine section, four salons, one corridor and one kitchen, and houses between 50 and 60 inmates.

Due to an inadequate heating system to warm the wards on increasingly-cold days, many inmates of this ward have gotten sick. Moreover, these inmates have to cope with many additional issues such as a shut-down kindergarten, shortages of bathroom and sanitary services, and a poorly-equipped food store.

This ward has only three toilets and one bathroom for the over 50 inmates. The shared kitchen is small and unsuitable. The food store fails to supply any foods and other requirements.

Some of the inmates are living with their little kids. For unknown reasons, the kindergarten of this ward has been closed.

Despite the inmates’ repeated complaints and demands that the heating system be fixed, the most urgent of these issues as the temperature drops, prison officials have not yet addressed the issue.

Political Prisoner Mojgan Kavousi Transferred Back to Evin Prison from Kachooie Prison

On Wednesday, October 13, political prisoner Mojgan Kavousi was sent back to Evin Prison from Kachooie Prison in Karaj.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Kavousi was relocated to Karaj police detention center a while ago, and from there to Kachooie Prison.

In a phone call with her family, Kavousi informed them about this relocation.  The reason for her transfer to Kachooie Prison is still unknown.

On July 26, 2021, Branch 28 of the appellate court in Mazandaran Province issued an order to transfer the political prisoner to a prison in Alborz Province for the remainder of her sentence.

“Due to  COVID-related restrictions making family visitation difficult, Mrs Kavousi asked for transferring to Noshahr where her family are living,” an informed source told HRANA. “On July 13, 2021, they transferred her to Noshahr but after spending one-night in police detention centre, they sent her back to Tehran. Considering that her family are residing in either Tehran or Noshahr, it is not clear why she should be transferred to a prison in Alborz Province.”

On November 20, 2019, Mojgan Kavousi was arrested by security forces amid nationwide protests in the mid-fall of the year, from her home in Noshahr. After being held three weeks in detention, she was sent to Noshahr Prison. On December 19, 2019, she was released on bail.

The Revolutionary Court in Noshahr sentenced her to 6 months on a charge of “the propaganda against the regime”, 33 months on a charge of “membership in opposition parties” and 30 months on a charge of “provoking to disturb the public order”. During the appeal process, the sentence was increased by seven months due to the influence of the prosecutor.

Mojgan Kavouci is a writer, researcher and follower of Yarsanism.