Appeals Court Confirms One-Year Imprisonment of Motahareh Ghonei, Suspended Medical Student

The Tehran Appeals Court confirmed the one-year imprisonment of Motahareh Ghonei, a suspended student at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, on Wednesday, September 21. This student activist was accused of 'propaganda activities against the regime in favor of anti-revolutionary media' following her protest against the death sentence issued for imprisoned rapper Tomaj Salehi, and was sentenced to one year in prison about two months ago. Ghonei stated about a week ago that her suspension from studying at Tehran University has entered its second year. This dental student and former political secretary of the Islamic Students Association of Tehran University mentioned in a note on the social media platform 'X' that September 8, 2022, marks the beginning of her suspension from studying at Tehran University, writing: 'Tomorrow marks two years that I have been deprived of my home, which is Tehran University.' Criticizing the pressures she faces, Ghonei wrote: 'They have made my life hell and told me I should not stay in Iran, otherwise it would be bad for me. I said I will not exchange this hell for your filthy paradise. Tomorrow marks two years that they have committed to my destruction.' Ghonei was arrested during the nationwide protests of 'Women, Life, Freedom' on October 4, 2022, and was later sentenced to 24 months of study suspension and exile to Ardabil University of Medical Sciences. Following the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests, pressure on students and the repression and harassment of them, especially female students, intensified. Many students were arrested or suspended from their studies, and professors who supported them faced similar fates. Students and professors from over 120 universities in Iran, during the nationwide protests of 2022, expressed their support for the protesting people and called for the 'overthrow' and complete elimination of the Islamic Republic in Iran.