Court Hearing for Detained Activists in Gilan to be Held on March 1

Human rights sources announced on Monday, January 27, that the court hearing for the charges against 12 political activists and women's rights advocates, who were arrested in various cities of Gilan in August of this year, will be held on Thursday, March 1, in Rasht, the capital of the province. Sara Jahani, Hooman Taheri, Yasamin Hashedari, Shiva Shahsiah, Negin Rezaei, Vahedeh Khoshirat, Matin Yazdani, Azadeh Chavoshian, Zahra Dadras, Zahra Dadras, Jalwa Javaheri, and Forough Samiinia are set to appear in the third branch of the Rasht Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Mehdi Rasakhi. The widespread arrests of these political activists and women's rights advocates took place in late August when government agents raided their homes in the cities of Rasht, Anzali, Lahijan, and Fuman. After about two months, all of the detainees were temporarily released from Lakan Prison in Rasht at different times after posting bail. The Gilan Intelligence Department claimed without providing any evidence that the detainees intended to carry out 'subversive actions.' The commander of the Gilan police also claimed that 'a significant amount of tools and instruments for crimes against the regime and communication devices with hostile networks were discovered and seized from the suspects' hideouts.' Security agencies and the judiciary of the Islamic Republic have leveled similar accusations against political, labor, and civil activists for decades; accusations that have always been denied by these activists. Reports of 'mass arrests' of civil women activists in Rasht have been published. Two journalists and an environmental activist were arrested in Rasht. There was opposition to the continuation of medical leave for Aziz Qasemzadeh, the spokesperson for the Gilan Teachers' Trade Association, who was transferred to prison. There has been three weeks of uncertainty regarding a jailed labor activist in Sanandaj; the family of Sharifeh Mohammadi is worried. The uncertainty regarding Sharifeh Mohammadi in Sanandaj prison continues; a judicial case has been opened against her husband. Three civil activists were arrested in Ardabil, Urmia, and Rasht. Five civil activists were arrested in the provinces of East and West Azerbaijan, Ardabil, and Gilan. Nine Gilan teachers' union activists have been summoned to the Rasht Revolutionary Court.