Arrest and Summons of Civil Activists in Gilan for 'Execution of Prison Sentences'

Reports indicate the arrest of Zahra Dadras and the summons of all women’s rights and civil activists involved in the 'August 2023 Gilan case' for the execution of sentences issued by the judiciary. Zahra Dadras, the sister of Zahra Dadras, announced in a video published on social media on Wednesday, July 20, that her sister was arrested by agents of the 'Ministry of Intelligence' without an execution order, stating: 'They were afraid my sister would flee the country and said they came to arrest her themselves.' The Iranian Women's Association reported that Zahra Dadras was also arrested and transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht a few hours after the video was released. The Bidar Zani media outlet announced on Wednesday that simultaneously with this arrest, several activists including Forough Samiinia, Jalveh Javaheri, Matin Yazdani, Yasamin Hashtari, Negin Rezaei, Azadeh Chavoshian, Sara Jahani, and Hooman Taheri must report to Lakan Prison in Rasht by Saturday, July 23, to serve their sentences. On June 9 of this year, human rights and women's rights media in Iran reported the confirmation of sentences totaling 'over 60 years of imprisonment' for women’s rights and political activists in Gilan by the appeals court. According to these sentences, Zahra Dadras was sentenced to 9 years and 6 months in prison; specifically, 6 years and 1 day for 'forming a group with the aim of undermining national security' and 3 years and 6 months and 1 day for 'gathering and colluding.' Forough Samiinia, Sara Jahani, Yasamin Hashtari, Shiva Shah Siah, Negin Rezaei, Matin Yazdani, Azadeh Chavoshian, and Zahra Dadras were each sentenced to 6 years, 3 months, and 17 days in prison; for 'gathering and colluding' they received 3 years and 6 months and 1 day, and for 'membership in a group' aimed at undermining national security, they received 2 years and 7 months and 16 days. According to the report, Jalveh Javaheri and Hooman Taheri were also sentenced to 1 year in prison for 'propaganda against the Islamic Republic.' Mostafa Nili, one of the lawyers for the accused in the Gilan case, described the appeals court process as 'strange' in an interview published on Wednesday in the Shargh newspaper, stating that the case was confirmed very quickly without a hearing. Mr. Nili noted that 'the appeals court ruling has not yet been communicated to him as the lawyer for two of the defendants in this case.' Zahra Minoui, another lawyer in this case, emphasized the hastiness of the judge in issuing the ruling, stating that 'the date of the ruling's issuance is the same day as the court session.' According to this lawyer, during the arrest phase to the prosecutor's office and the issuance of the indictment, the lawyers in this case were not allowed to enter. Ms. Minoui announced that the lawyers in this case have requested a retrial and expressed hope that 'the Supreme Court will pay attention to the formal objections and substantive contradictions in the ruling.' Previously, sources close to these activists told Radio Farda that most of them faced heavy pressures during detention, including severe interrogation, beatings, sexual assault, threats of death, and mock executions. According to information received by Radio Farda, most of the physical and psychological violence during the interrogation and imprisonment of these activists and detainees after the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement in Gilan was carried out with the knowledge and direct orders of 'Investigator Soltani' in Branch 10 of the Rasht Criminal Court. Meanwhile, more than 350 civil activists and women's rights advocates had previously issued a statement calling for the unconditional release of 11 women's rights activists in Gilan province. The spokesperson for the U.S. State Department also stated on Thursday, April 9, that the issuance of 'heavy' sentences for women's rights activists in Gilan province is an action by the Iranian government to 'intimidate and silence the voices of civil activists.'