Protests Against Khamenei and Assault on 'Tabriz Girl'; Transfer from Prison to Psychiatric Hospital

Roya Zakeri, a protester known as 'Tabriz Girl', who is serving her sentence in the central prison of Tabriz, has once again been transferred to Razi Psychiatric Hospital in this city. Sina Yousofi, a lawyer, announced on social media platform X that Roya Zakeri was assaulted by government agents at Razi Hospital on Saturday, April 11, for chanting slogans against Khamenei and was moved to an 'isolation room'. According to Yousofi, this political prisoner is currently hospitalized in the Bouali section of Razi Hospital, under surveillance by intelligence agents, and 'her life is in danger.' This is the second time that the Islamic Republic authorities have detained this young female protester in a psychiatric hospital. Roya Zakeri, who has become known on social media as 'Tabriz Girl', was arrested in Mehr 1402 (October 2023) after clashing with hijab enforcers and chanting 'Death to Khamenei'. She was taken to Razi Psychiatric Hospital in the center of East Azerbaijan Province. Previously, she described the incident, stating: 'That day, due to my bank card being blocked, I went to the cyber police, who told me that my bank card would not be unblocked. In response, I said that I would not leave until I received a proper answer, and they detained me for five days in the central prison for this reason. I immediately went on a hunger strike, and after being released from prison, I protested in the streets.' Roya Zakeri also emphasized in a video that she is in perfect physical and mental health, but the Islamic Republic is trying to portray her as a 'mental patient.' Kianoush Sanjari, a journalist who has also been detained in a psychiatric hospital, previously told VOA that transferring political prisoners to psychiatric centers is 'a repeat of Soviet and Nazi practices.'