Exclusive; Judicial Officials Set 'Condition' for 'Consolidation of Sentence' for Imprisoned Opponent of Mandatory Hijab

A source close to Souri Babaei Chaghini, a jailed protester, told Voice of America that judicial officials in Qazvin province have informed him that if he does not express 'remorse' and 'request pardon', they will not agree to consolidate his sentences. According to the informed source, the Qazvin Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor's Office has detained Souri Babaei Chaghini 'for the crime of seeking justice for grieving mothers and protesting against mandatory hijab', and although the maximum penalty considered for him is one year in prison, they oppose the consolidation of his sentences. The source emphasized that the maximum penalty for him is 'one year' in prison, but 'they say that as long as you do not express remorse and request forgiveness and pardon, your request for consolidation of your case will not be approved.' The informed source also told Voice of America that 'some time ago', Souri Babaei Chaghini was subjected to 'severe beating' by a police officer during his transfer to court, and despite this political prisoner filing a complaint, 'no action has been taken', and he is currently 'banned from visits'. According to this informed source, with the consolidation of the cases of Mohammad Reza Morad Behrouzi, Souri Babaei Chaghini's husband, it was agreed to release him 'after a year of physical and mental torture' on the condition that he 'remains silent', but two more cases were formed against him on charges of 'disobedience to government officials during the performance of their duties' and 'propaganda against the regime', sentencing him to an additional four months in prison. Souri Babaei Chaghini, an opponent of mandatory hijab in Qazvin who has a history of previous arrests, was detained again on July 16 of this year along with her husband Mohammad Reza Morad Behrouzi by plainclothes agents and is currently in Chubin Prison in Qazvin. This civil activist had previously been arrested on July 12, 2022, after participating in the 'Hijab Without Hijab' campaign and was released from prison on April 5 of this year. Souri Babaei Chaghini had previously stated that government forces had confiscated her car, and she was forced to sell her kidney to cover living expenses. She had also emphasized her stance against mandatory hijab, saying: 'I go to court with optional covering and I am not afraid of arrest and prison.'