Israeli Threat Looms Over the Islamic Republic; Authorities Increase Prison Sentences for Five Women Protesters

While the threat of Israel responding to the missile attacks by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps continues to hang over Iranian officials, human rights organizations have reported that the judiciary of the Islamic Republic has increased the prison sentences of five women protesters imprisoned in Evin Prison. The human rights media outlet Hengaw announced on Monday, October 30, that Pakhshan Azizi, Varisheh Moradi, Narges Mohammadi, Mahbubeh Rezaei, and Pariush Moslemi, five political prisoners serving their sentences in Evin, have been sentenced to a total of 27 months and one day of imprisonment for another case due to their protests against the execution of Reza Rasayi. This sentence was communicated to them on Saturday, October 28. According to this ruling, issued by the Criminal Court 2 of the Quds Judicial Complex in Tehran, presided over by Judge Abolfazl Amiri Shahroudi, Pakhshan Azizi, a political prisoner sentenced to death, Varisheh Moradi, a political prisoner accused of rebellion, and Narges Mohammadi and Mahbubeh Rezaei each received an additional six months in prison, while Pariush Moslemi received an additional three months and one day. This case was opened on August 7 of this year after protests by a number of female prisoners in Evin against the execution of Reza Rasayi, one of the detainees from the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. Following the execution of Reza Rasayi, these imprisoned women clashed with prison guards in protest against this action by the Islamic Republic, which led to them being deprived for a period of their right to make phone calls and visit their families. The imposition of additional restrictions on female prisoners in Evin followed protests against body search methods. Shirin Ebadi: Death is the true identity of the Islamic Republic. Varisheh Moradi, a political prisoner accused of rebellion, has gone on an indefinite hunger strike. Support for the 'Black Tuesdays' campaign was expressed in a virtual meeting against the death penalty. Female prisoners in Evin protested against 'sexual harassment'.