Forty-Four Women Activists Demand 'Immediate and Unconditional Release' of Maryam Akbari Monfared

Forty-four women activists on Sunday, July 16, expressed their sorrow over the 'fifteen years of unjust imprisonment' of Maryam Akbari Monfared by signing a joint statement demanding her 'immediate and unconditional release.' The signatories noted at the beginning of their statement that the judiciary of the Islamic Republic cannot stop 'justice-seeking,' stating: 'The voice of justice-seeking is no longer just from Maryam's throat but is heard from all corners of Iran.' These friends and former cellmates of Ms. Akbari Monfared continued by saying that it is natural for the prolonged duration of her imprisonment to raise human rights concerns and reactions, and that 'the charges against her due to these reactions do not fit any rule.' The women activists, referring to Ms. Akbari Monfared's 'struggle and resistance,' added: 'The new case is not just against Maryam, but a lawsuit and revenge by the judiciary against justice-seeking.' They described 'the case fabrication after fifteen years of unjust imprisonment' as 'torture of Maryam and her family,' adding: 'Justice-seeking is not a crime, but itself is a cry against injustice.' Among the women activists who signed this statement are Narges Mohammadi, Golrokh Iraee, Sepideh Gholian, Nahid Taghavi, Faezah Hashemi, Zhila Baniyaghoub, and Mahdieh Golroo. In recent weeks, news sources have reported that the judiciary of the Islamic Republic has confronted Maryam Akbari Monfared, a political prisoner, with two new cases and new charges. Maryam Akbari Monfared, who is serving a 15-year sentence and has been exiled from Evin Prison to Semnan Prison, was transferred to Evin Prosecutor's Office on Saturday, July 1, after spending 13 and a half years in prison without leave, where she was informed of five charges before being returned to Semnan. The charges presented to Akbari Monfared at Evin Prosecutor's Office include propaganda against the Islamic Republic, conspiracy and collusion against national security, dissemination of falsehoods, insulting the leader, and inciting the public to disrupt public order. The opening of two new security cases against Maryam Akbari Monfared comes amid reports of poor conditions for prisoners in Iran, just two days after the publication of Javid Rahman's report. A Twitter storm in support of a political prisoner; Maryam Akbari Monfared has not taken leave in the past 12 years. Amnesty International has once again called for the release of political prisoners from Iranian prisons. A statement from 17 women prisoners in Iran: The Islamic Republic is a misogynistic government.