Conversion of Monetary Fine to 39 Months Imprisonment for Atefeh Rangriz, Imprisoned Women's Rights Activist

Atefeh Rangriz, a women's rights activist imprisoned in Shahroud prison who is currently on a hunger strike, is facing a new 'case fabrication' and 'conversion of monetary fines to prison sentences' in her previous case. According to human rights sources, the punishment of paying six million tomans in fines, which was issued in a case last year for Rangriz, has now been changed to over 39 months in prison. In that case, dated Mehr 1402, she was sentenced to pay a fine for charges of 'collaboration and membership in anti-regime groups' and 'propaganda against the regime.' According to the website 'Bidar Zani,' after the change of her fine to imprisonment, Rangriz has now been sentenced to two years, seven months, and 16 days in prison for the charge of 'collaboration and membership in anti-regime groups,' and seven months and 16 days for 'propaganda against the regime.' The report states that Rangriz, who has been in Shahroud prison since July 9, is currently facing a new 'case fabrication,' being accused of 'propaganda against the regime' and 'forming a group with the intent to disrupt national security.' The charge of 'forming a group with the intent to disrupt national security' was among the charges that led to a nine-year and six-month sentence for Zahra (Fatemeh) Dadras, one of the convicted in the case of 11 civil and women's rights activists in Gilan, where 11 civil activists were sentenced to over 60 years in prison. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller described these sentences as 'unjust' and 'an attempt to intimidate and silence activists' and condemned them strongly. Pressure on civil and political activists in Iran has increased in recent years, especially after the nationwide protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in custody of the morality police in 1401. According to Amnesty International in early Ordibehesht, Iranian authorities have engaged in 'severe repression of political freedoms' of activists, journalists, and critics using 'illegal coercive forces and unfair trials' to silence protests. The continuation of the death sentence for Sharifeh Mohammadi: the goal is to instill fear in social movements. Mohammad Parsi, a critical journalist, was tried for publishing an article about Nika Shakerimi. The hunger strike of Atefeh Rangriz has begun in Shahroud prison. Atefeh Rangriz, a women's rights activist, has been arrested again.