The U.S. Condemns Heavy Sentences for Civil Activists in Gilan; Miller: An Attempt to Intimidate and Silence Activists

The U.S. State Department strongly condemned the sentences issued for 11 women defenders of women's rights in Gilan province. The spokesperson for the department described these sentences as "unjust" and "an attempt to intimidate and silence activists." Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, referred to the judicial process concerning human rights activists in Iran as "fabricated" and stated, "The Iranian regime is seeking to intimidate and silence these brave women by issuing such sentences." The third branch of the Revolutionary Court in Rasht sentenced 11 women's rights activists and political activists, who were arrested in August 2023, to a total of 60 years in prison on Wednesday, April 8. According to the report, Zahra Dadras received a sentence of 9 years and 6 months in prison, while 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 more than 6 years in prison. The U.S. State Department spokesperson emphasized that the rulings of this institution "lack any credibility and legitimacy." Miller also referred to multiple reports of torture, forced confessions, and restricted access to lawyers in the Islamic Republic, stating that these actions "further expose the illegitimacy of Iran's judicial system." These activists were convicted in March 2024 on charges such as "gathering and colluding," "forming a group with the aim of undermining national security," and "membership in a group." Miller reiterated the Biden administration's commitment to supporting the people of Iran, stating that this support will continue in various forms, including "practical methods." He added that this support may not always be visible, but the United States will continue to work with its allies to hold human rights violators in Iran accountable. Gohar Eshghi reacted on Instagram to the issuance of over 60 years of prison sentences for eleven women's rights activists in Gilan, stating that this retrogressive government is the number one enemy of free women. The mother of Sattar Beheshti added in her Instagram post: "I have heard that long prison sentences have been handed down to my enlightened daughters in Gilan. This government fears the presence of women. What have my daughters in Gilan done to deserve more than sixty years in prison? Why don't you imprison thieves and corrupt people? Why are all the corrupt and thieving people ministers and lawmakers?" Gohar Eshghi, whose son Sattar Beheshti was killed in 2012 while in custody for "blogging," further stated: "Children, remember that from this anti-woman government, no one receives anything but execution, lashes, and torture. This retrogressive government is the number one enemy of our free women, the enemy of humanity and love, which seeks to prolong its cursed life by taking revenge on our brave women." She also emphasized: "The rulers of the Islamic Republic are mistaken. In the end, they will melt away like snow, and these brave women will dismantle their regime." According to the Hengaw Human Rights Organization, in 2023, at least 22 women were executed in the prisons of the Islamic Republic, 325 women activists were arrested, and 147 women activists were sentenced to imprisonment, lashes, and execution. The report states that 139 women activists were sentenced to a total of more than 553 years in prison, and 10 of them were sentenced to a total of 557 lashes. Gita Arian, a senior reporter for the Persian section of Voice of America, has primarily focused on foreign policy news. She began her journalism career in 1987 with work at radio and joined Voice of America in 2004.