Over 60 Years of Prison Sentences for Gilan Activists Confirmed 'Without Court Proceedings'

Branch 11 of the Appeals Court in Rasht confirmed over 60 years of prison sentences for women's rights activists and political activists in Gilan province 'without court proceedings'. According to the 'Bidarzeni' channel, Judge Mohammad Sadegh Iran Aghideh finalized these sentences on Tuesday, June 8, two months after the initial ruling for those arrested in August 2022 in Gilan. Accordingly, Zahra Dadras was sentenced to 9 years and 6 months in prison for charges of 'forming a group aimed at undermining national security' and 'conspiracy and collusion'. Eight other women named Forough Sami'nia, Sara Jahani, Yasmin Hashedari, Shiva Shah Sia, Negin Rezaei, Matin Yazdani, Azadeh Chavoshian, and Zahra Dadras were each sentenced to 6 years, 3 months, and 17 days in prison for charges of 'membership in a group' and 'conspiracy and collusion'. Two other defendants in this case, Jalveh Javaheri and Hooman Taheri, received one-year prison sentences each for 'propaganda against the regime'. The court session addressing the charges against these 11 activists was held on Friday, March 10, 2023, in Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht, and the verdict was announced on April 8, 2023. These women's rights activists and political activists were arrested on August 25, 2022, in four cities of Gilan province, including Rasht, Anzali, Lahijan, and Fuman, and were temporarily released from Lakan Prison in Rasht about two months later on bail. The Gilan Intelligence Department claimed without providing any evidence that the detainees intended 'subversive actions'. Reports indicate that Gilan activists were subjected to torture and abuse by the Islamic Republic's agents during their detention. The issuance of over 60 years of prison sentences for 11 women's rights defenders and political activists in Gilan has faced widespread criticism from hundreds of activists and civil and human rights organizations, including the Iranian Writers' Association, the Human Rights Defenders Center, and the Iranian Teachers' Guild Council. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller also described these sentences as 'unjust' and 'an attempt to intimidate and silence activists', condemning them strongly. More than 350 civil and women's rights activists condemned the prison sentences of Gilan activists. The U.S. condemned the heavy sentences for Gilan civil activists; Miller stated: 'This is an attempt to intimidate and silence activists.' The Iranian Teachers' Guild Council condemned the 'inhumane sentences' against labor and women's activists. Eleven women's rights activists in Gilan were sentenced to a total of over 60 years in prison for 'conspiracy and collusion'.