Sara Jahani, women's rights activist, arrested in the street and transferred to Lakan Prison in Rasht

Radio Farda has learned that Sara Jahani, a women's rights activist and one of the defendants in the case of civil activists in Gilan, who had not been transferred to prison for medical reasons, was arrested in the street by security forces. She had gone to the forensic medicine department at the request of the execution judge on the morning of Monday, August 8, and was arrested an hour later in one of the streets of Lahijan by three agents. Sources close to Ms. Jahani say that these individuals, who did not show a warrant when arresting her, claimed to be agents of the Ministry of Intelligence. On August 25 of last year, security agents of the Islamic Republic arrested 12 women’s rights activists and civil activists residing in Gilan, including Sara Jahani and five other women. These activists were collectively sentenced to 'more than 60 years in prison,' a ruling that was confirmed by the Gilan Court of Appeals on June 8 of this year. Six other women civil activists from Gilan were also sent to Lakan Prison. After her arrest, Sara Jahani was transferred directly to Lakan Prison in Rasht without being taken to the prosecutor's office or to the execution judge. Informed sources have also told Radio Farda that Sara Jahani's mobile phone is now in the possession of security agents. On July 23, Farough Sami'nia, Jalveh Javaheri, Negin Rezaei, Shiva Shahsiah, and Azadeh Chavoshian, other convicted civil activists in this case, were sent to Lakan Prison in Rasht. According to the rulings issued by the Revolutionary Court in this case and later confirmed by the appeals court, Zahra Dadras was sentenced to 9 years and 6 months in prison for 'forming a group with the aim of undermining national security' and 'gathering and conspiracy'; a Telegram group that the detainees themselves referred to as a 'friendly group.' Farough Sami'nia, Sara Jahani, Yasamin Hashedari, Shiva Shahsiah, Negin Rezaei, Matin Yazdani, Azadeh Chavoshian, and Zahra Dadras were each sentenced to six years, three months, and 17 days in prison for 'gathering and conspiracy' and 'membership in a group.' Jalveh Javaheri and Houman Taheri were also sentenced to one year in prison for 'propaganda against the Islamic Republic.' Previously, sources close to these activists had told Radio Farda that most of them were subjected to severe interrogation pressures, beatings, sexual assault, threats of death, and mock executions during their detention.