Amnesty International Criticizes the Re-arrest of Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee

On Wednesday, February 25, Amnesty International issued a statement criticizing the re-arrest of Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee, a human rights activist and writer, stating that her renewed detention by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) would hinder her appeal process. Earlier reports indicated that Golrokh Ebrahimi, the wife of Arash Sadeghi, and their friend Saeed Eghbali were arrested on Sunday, January 22, while they were on their way to a hospital where Arash Sadeghi was admitted. Ebrahimi Iraee and Eghbali were detained by agents of the 'Sepah Tharallah'. Arash Sadeghi had been transferred to Shahid Tajrish Hospital for tests on the morning of Sunday. According to Amnesty's statement, Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee has been transferred to Evin Prison. Previously, the human rights activist website, HRANA, quoted a 'close source' to Ebrahimi's family stating that she requested her belongings to be sent to prison during a phone call with her mother. The report also mentioned that Saeed Eghbali was transferred to an 'unknown location'. Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee had previously been sentenced to six years in prison for 'insulting sacred values' while writing an unpublished story about stoning in Iran. She was arrested at home on October 25 without any written summons, only receiving a phone call from the enforcement office instructing her to report to Evin Prison to begin her six-year sentence. Her arrest led to a hunger strike by her husband, Arash Sadeghi, which lasted over 70 days as he demanded her release. Eventually, Ebrahimi Iraee was granted leave on January 3, and it was stated that her case would be reviewed. At that time, she told Radio Farda that she had been released on bail of 500 million tomans. Reports indicated that Arash Sadeghi ended his hunger strike following his wife's temporary release. However, due to respiratory and gastrointestinal issues, he was transferred multiple times to the medical facility of Evin Prison in recent days. Meanwhile, Philip Luther, the director of Amnesty International for the Middle East and North Africa, criticized the re-arrest of Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee, stating that the IRGC's treatment of her and her husband reflects unjust and arbitrary behavior towards them. He called for an end to the harassment of Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee and Arash Sadeghi's 'peaceful human rights activities' and emphasized the need for their immediate and unconditional release.