Nasser Zarafshan: Farzaneh Zilabi is Paying the Price for Her Legal Work

Farzaneh Zilabi, a lawyer in Khuzestan province, states that her prison sentence was issued based on unfounded accusations, and her lawyer will appeal the decision. Nasser Zarafshan, her attorney, emphasized that his client is 'paying the price for her legal work' and described the situation as 'dangerous.' Zilabi, who has represented workers from Haft Tappeh sugarcane company, social security retirees, and several teachers in recent years, was sentenced to one and a half years in prison by the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz on charges of 'propaganda against the regime,' 'collusion and conspiracy,' and 'insulting the leadership.' In an interview with 'Emtedad,' affiliated with the National Union Party, she stressed that the court's ruling was issued 'without specifying the instances' of the accusations against her. According to Zilabi, 'issues in cyberspace' were the basis for the ruling, despite her request for an inquiry from the Cyber Police being rejected. She asserted, 'Based on the claims made, the ruling was based on matters in cyberspace that, in my opinion, absolutely did not exist.' Zilabi had previously been sentenced to one year in prison in another case. She mentioned that she has received more support from her clients, including retirees, teachers, and workers, than from the Khuzestan Bar Association. The Haft Tappeh Workers' Syndicate, the independent Haft Tappeh Workers' channel, and the Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company condemned the Islamic Revolutionary Court's ruling against Zilabi. The Haft Tappeh Workers' Syndicate described Zilabi's new conviction as part of the 'continuation of security forces' fabrication of cases against defenders of labor activists.' The independent Haft Tappeh Workers' channel stated that Zilabi's 'only crime' was supporting the Haft Tappeh workers. Following increased pressure on lawyers, over 100 legal experts across Iran have recently been summoned to the prosecutor's office. According to the HRANA news agency, since the protests began in response to the death of Mahsa Amini in the Islamic Republic's morality police, at least 129 lawyers have faced 'judicial action.' One and a half years in prison for Farzaneh Zilabi; workers criticized the 'unjust courts' of the Islamic Republic. The number of summoned lawyers to the 'Security Prosecutor's Office' in Evin prison has increased. Several individuals were arrested during teachers' gatherings; 11 teachers were summoned to the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Khuzestan.