A Female Political Prisoner Charged with 'Bugh' in Tehran's Public and Revolutionary Court

On Thursday, February 8, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network reported that Varisheh Moradi, a member of an organization called 'Free Women's Society of Eastern Kurdistan', has been charged with 'bugh' by the investigator of Branch 5 of Tehran's Public and Revolutionary Court. According to the report, this charge under the laws of the Islamic Republic carries the possibility of a heavy death sentence. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network wrote that the case of this political prisoner has been sent to Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Salavati, after the issuance of an indictment by the prosecutor's office. The report indicates that Ms. Moradi has spent 5 out of her 6 months of detention in solitary confinement in the detention centers of the Intelligence Department in Sanandaj and Ward 209 of Evin Prison in Tehran. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network had reported the arrest of Varisheh Moradi on July 31 of this year in the city of Sanandaj. In this regard, the 'Free Women's Society of Eastern Kurdistan' announced on September 26 of this year that this member was arrested while engaging in 'political activities and organizing women' in Kurdistan. Subsequently, the 'Bitaavan' website, affiliated with the Islamic Republic's Ministry of Intelligence, reported on November 8 the arrest of Varisheh Moradi along with Pakhshan Azizi and Sirvan Mohammadrezaei. This security website did not mention the date of arrest for these three individuals, identifying them as members of 'PJAK', the Free Life Party of Kurdistan. Three civil and social activists have been imprisoned in Tehran and Sanandaj. Strikes have occurred in Kurdish cities in response to the execution of four Kurdish political prisoners. The U.S. State Department condemned the execution of four Kurdish political prisoners in Iran.