Sentences of Over 60 Years Imprisonment for Activists in Gilan Sent to the Rasht Prosecutor's Office

The case of civil and women's rights activists in Gilan, who have been sentenced to a total of over 60 years in prison, has been referred to the execution branch of the Rasht Prosecutor's Office. Forough Sami'niya, who was sentenced to more than six years and three months in prison for 'membership in a group' and 'conspiracy and collusion' in the case of 11 Gilan activists, wrote in an Instagram note regarding the referral of the case to execution: 'We do not know when the sentence will be executed, and this itself is a tool of pressure on the prisoner.' This women's rights activist considered prison sentences as a consequence of activism in Iran and added: 'Any activist who has chosen to operate within the borders of Iran has naturally anticipated such a day in their life, and I am no exception to this rule. I have had an open case for four years, which means the risk of imprisonment has been a serious part of my life.' According to reports, Gilan activists were subjected to torture and abuse by the Islamic Republic agents during their detention. According to Jala Javaheri, one of the 11 Gilan activists sentenced to imprisonment, Forough Sami'niya was physically assaulted during her detention and developed 'nervous diabetes' due to psychological pressure during her arrest. She reported that 'I learned that they had constantly beaten her on the head and hands, so much so that the marks remained on her hand even after two weeks.' The 11th branch of the appeals court in Rasht confirmed the sentences of over 60 years for women's rights activists and political activists in Gilan 'without holding a trial' on June 8. In this case, Zahra (Fatemeh) Dadras was sentenced to 9 years and 6 months in prison for 'forming a group with the aim of undermining national security' and 'conspiracy and collusion.' Eight other women, including Forough Sami'niya, Sara Jahani, Yasamin Hashtari, Shiva Shahsiya, Negin Rezaei, Matin Yazdani, Azadeh Chavoshian, and Zahra Dadras, were each sentenced to 6 years, 3 months, and 17 days in prison for 'membership in a group' and 'conspiracy and collusion.' Two other defendants in the case, Jala Javaheri and Hooman Taheri, received one-year prison sentences each for 'propaganda against the regime.' The trial session for these 11 activists was held on February 28 of last year in the 3rd branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Rasht, and the court's ruling was announced on April 27 of this year. These women's rights activists and political activists were arrested on August 16 of last year 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 to carry out 'subversive actions.' 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 Cultural Teachers' Guild. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller also described these sentences as 'unjust' and 'an attempt to intimidate and silence activists' and condemned them strongly. Over 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, with Miller stating: 'This is an attempt to intimidate and silence activists.' Zahra Dadras, a civil activist sentenced to prison, reported on the pressure and torture during her detention. Eleven women's rights activists in Gilan were sentenced to a total of over 60 years in prison for 'conspiracy and collusion.'