Exclusive; The Sentence in Shakila Monfared's Final Case Reduced to 12 Months in Appeal

A source informed Voice of America that the 15-month prison sentence of Shakila Monfared, a political prisoner in Evin, which was issued in a new case during her imprisonment, has been reduced to 12 months in the appeals court. A source close to Shakila Monfared told the Persian section of Voice of America on Thursday, April 9, that in the appeals court ruling issued two days prior, 'only three months have been reduced from her prison sentence' and she has been sentenced to '12 months in prison.' The primary court had sentenced Ms. Monfared to 15 months in prison, but in the ruling of the appeals court, which was communicated to Shakila Monfared in prison two days ago, 'only three months have been reduced from this sentence' and she has been sentenced to '12 months in prison.' This informed source quoted Shakila Monfared as saying that considering this new ruling, this political prisoner must spend another five years in prison. According to this source, Shakila Monfared intends to file a request for retrial when the appeals court ruling 'comes to the execution branch, so the case can be sent for reconsideration to an equivalent branch.' In this case, which was opened against her during her imprisonment, she was sentenced in the primary court to 15 months in prison, two years of exile, and supplementary penalties. This is the third case that has been formed against this constitutionalist political prisoner during her imprisonment. The primary court for this joint case with Narges Mohammadi was held 'in late Azar' with the charge of 'propaganda against the regime' in Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by 'Iman Afshari,' and the ruling was issued 'in absentia' at that time. Shakila Monfared, a 30-year-old citizen residing in Tehran, was arrested by the Islamic Republic agents on September 1 of that year while leaving her home and was transferred to a detention center of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' intelligence organization. After the interrogation was completed, she was taken to Evin Prison. This political prisoner was previously sentenced in 1399 to four years of definitive imprisonment on charges including 'propaganda against the regime and insulting the sanctities of Islam.' Then in 1400, during her imprisonment, she was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for 'membership in opposition groups,' and in Khordad 1402, she was tried on charges of 'collusion and conspiracy to commit a crime against national security,' which was closed with a 'non-prosecution' order.