Shakila Monfared's Brother Reports Formation of Third Case Against This Political Prisoner

Shakila Monfared, a political prisoner currently held in the women's section of Evin Prison, has been accused once again of 'propaganda against the regime' as a third case is formed against her on the third anniversary of her imprisonment. Ashkan Monfared, Shakila's brother, announced on Thursday, December 7, that a new indictment has been issued for this political prisoner. He wrote on the social media platform X that on Wednesday, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court, presided over by 'Iman Afshari', issued a 'new indictment according to Article 500 of the Islamic Penal Code' against Shakila Monfared. In this case, Shakila Monfared is accused of 'propaganda against the regime', and according to Ashkan Monfared, the indictment states that 'given the political and security conditions, if a verdict of conviction is issued against her, it is suggested that her sentence be carried out outside of Tehran.' Ashkan Monfared emphasized that 'this is the third case fabricated by the interrogators against Shakila during her three and a half years of imprisonment.' According to Ashkan Monfared, 'Shakila told Judge Iman Afshari: My own harassment was not enough; now you want to punish my family as well.' The brother of this political prisoner also stressed that 'the interrogators have repeatedly threatened Shakila, both in the Sepah's Tharallah detention center and in Qarchak and Evin,' stating, 'You entered prison vertically, you will leave horizontally.' Shakila Monfared was sentenced in Bahman 1400 (January 2022) by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran to 'two years and eight months in prison and a fine of 10 million tomans' for 'spreading falsehoods' and 'membership in opposition groups.' This sentence was also issued for a case that was opened against this political prisoner during her imprisonment. Previously, Shakila Monfared had been sentenced by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran to six years in prison and four months of forced labor in agricultural jihad for 'propaganda against the regime and insulting Islamic sanctities', which was reduced to four years and two months by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals. Her brother had previously told Voice of America that the prison sentence for 'insulting sanctities' has no basis, and 'the lawyer has also stated that there is nothing in the case that they could use to justify the charge of insulting sanctities.'