New Case Against Fatemeh Sepahri; Judge Accuses Her of 'Supporting Israel'

Asghar Sepahri, the brother of Fatemeh Sepahri, announced on Saturday, April 7, that his sister has been accused of 'supporting Israel' for condemning Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7. He shared a post with explanations from their mother, stating: 'Fatemeh Sepahri condemned a terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel two weeks after her open-heart surgery last year, and today, Saturday, April 7, she was accused of supporting Israel during a virtual interrogation session from Vakilabad Prison.' Asghar identified Ali Soleimani-Marshek as the investigator responsible for the case and emphasized that despite these pressures, 'my sister has reiterated her condemnation of Hamas's attack in conversations with family.' A family member of political prisoners wrote on social media on Thursday, March 15, that Mohammad Hossein Doroudi, the prosecutor in Mashhad, opposed Fatemeh Sepahri's leave despite her illness and 'severe pain.' The 'Nofdi' organization, a national union for democracy in Iran, awarded Fatemeh Sepahri the '2024 Humanitarian Award' on March 20, recognizing her as 'a woman standing against the entirety of the Islamic Republic.' Fatemeh Sepahri, a political activist and signatory of the '14 Statement' for the transition from the Islamic Republic and the resignation of its leader Ali Khamenei, was last arrested on September 21, 2022, shortly after the killing of Mahsa Amini and the onset of nationwide protests, and was sentenced to 18 years in prison on charges of 'propaganda against the Islamic Republic, collaborating with hostile governments, and insulting Khamenei.' Despite her illness and multiple surgeries, including open-heart surgery, this political prisoner remains in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. Fatemeh's mother stated: 'After Fatemeh condemned Hamas, she was also accused of supporting Israel.' The 'Nofdi' humanitarian award was granted to Fatemeh Sepahri, a political prisoner in Iran. The temporary detention of Mohammad Hossein Sepahri has been extended, and Fatemeh Sepahri's leave has been opposed. According to Herana, Mohammad Hossein Sepahri remains in detention without resolution. Fatemeh Sepahri's lawyer stated that his client suffers from 'multiple illnesses.' The latest status of Fatemeh and Mohammad Hossein Sepahri indicates that the Mashhad Intelligence Department is obstructing these two political prisoners.