A Lawyer Reveals Details of Atena Farghadani's 'Torture' in IRGC's 'Safe House'

A lawyer has reported that Atena Farghadani, a painter and cartoonist, has been charged with 'propaganda against the regime and insulting sacred beliefs (Imam Zaman)' and that she was arrested by IRGC intelligence agents and subjected to 'severe torture' in 'one of the safe houses.' Mohammad Moeini, the lawyer, announced on his Instagram account on Sunday, April 21, that Atena Farghadani was present on Saturday, April 14, in protest against the harassment caused by security agencies, as well as the prevention of her artistic activities and exhibitions, at 'one of the entrances to Ali Khamenei's residence (Pastor Street)' where she intended to install her protest cartoons on the wall. She was violently arrested by IRGC agents. According to him, the IRGC intelligence forces first took her to 'one of the safe houses' and subjected her to severe torture, causing her to lose consciousness due to severe bleeding from her nose and blows to her head. Hours later, she regained consciousness in the prayer room of the police security base of the 8th FATA, with several pieces of her clothing removed. Moeini also added that after receiving her clothes back, she noticed blood stains that had been washed off. On the morning of April 26, she was transferred to Evin Prosecutor's Office. Moeini also stated that Atena Farghadani has been charged with 'baseless allegations' including 'propaganda against the regime and insulting sacred beliefs (Imam Zaman).' Moeini had previously stated that Atena Farghadani was transferred to Qarchak Prison, but in a follow-up report, he announced that 'Qarchak Prison refused to accept Atena Farghadani,' therefore, this detained artist was transferred to Evin Prison. According to Moeini, Qarchak Prison's refusal to accept Atena Farghadani was 'due to signs of torture (beatings) on her face and body.' Pressure on civil activists in Iran continues, and in this context, Arzhang Moradzadeh, a protesting student deprived of education, has also been summoned to the criminal enforcement department in Karaj to serve a seven-month prison sentence.