Human Rights Organizations Protest Prison Sentence for Atena Farghadani

Reporters Without Borders expressed "great concern" and condemned the 12 years and 9 months prison sentence of Atena Farghadani, a painter and civil and children's rights activist. In a statement published on its website on Wednesday, June 3, it also reported that Atena Daemi and Omid Alishenas, two civil society and human rights activists, have been sentenced to 14 years and 10 years in prison, respectively. Meanwhile, Amnesty International has called on everyone to send letters to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, the Head of the Judiciary, and the President of Iran, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Atena Farghadani. Mohammad Ghaemi, Atena Farghadani's lawyer, reported on June 1 that his client was sentenced by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Abolqasem Salavati, on three charges to 12 years and 9 months in prison. Ghaemi also told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that the ruling stated that Article 134 of the new Islamic Penal Code "must be observed." According to Article 134 of the new Islamic Penal Code, although the judge issues independent punishments for each crime, only the most severe punishment should be executed at the time of enforcement. According to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, the most severe punishment for Ms. Farghadani is seven and a half years in prison. Previously, reports mentioned charges against Ms. Farghadani such as "gathering and colluding with anti-revolutionary individuals and a deviant sect, insulting members of parliament through painting," and also "insulting" the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Atena Farghadani was arrested on August 24, 2014, by agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and was released on bail on October 31 of the same year. After her release, she reported in an online video about the installation of surveillance cameras in the bathrooms and showers of Ward 2A of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Ms. Farghadani then stated in an interview with the Jaras website that her critical paintings and her connections with the families of victims of the Green Movement and Baha'is were the main focus of her interrogations. According to reports, Ms. Farghadani was arrested on January 10, 2015, after presenting herself to Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, where she was "beaten" by agents and transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin. After being transferred to this prison, she went on a hunger strike and was later moved to Evin Prison after being hospitalized in Firouzgar Hospital in Shahr-e Rey in March 2015. The condemnation of two civil activists to 14 and 10 years in prison was also reported by Reporters Without Borders, which mentioned the sentencing of Atena Daemi and Omid Alishenas. According to reports, Atena Daemi, who has a diploma and works at the Enghelab Sports Club, was arrested by agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on October 21, 2014, and remains imprisoned. Previously, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reported, citing "an informed source," that "all charges" against Ms. Daemi were based on her writings on Facebook and participation in protests such as the gathering in support of the children of Kobani. Omid Alishenas, mentioned in the Reporters Without Borders statement, is reportedly a civil engineer who was arrested by agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on September 4, 2015, and has recently been transferred to Ward 8 of Evin Prison. Reports did not mention the charges against Mr. Alishenas, but Simin Ayvazadeh, his mother, stated in an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that writing a statement to stop the execution of "a prisoner" was among his actions.